Police Log

Posted 9/11/14

TRAFFICKING

A Massachusetts man was arrested at a local hotel and charged with human trafficking, according to Warwick Police.

Melvin Wilson, 34, of 1000 Division St. in Great Barrington, …

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Police Log

Posted

TRAFFICKING

A Massachusetts man was arrested at a local hotel and charged with human trafficking, according to Warwick Police.

Melvin Wilson, 34, of 1000 Division St. in Great Barrington, Mass., was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the La Quinta Inn on Jefferson Boulevard. Police were dispatched to the hotel for a disturbance in the parking lot and learned that a 27-year-old woman from Oklahoma City was being sexually trafficked by Wilson out of a room in the hotel.

Police said they learned he posted her picture on www.backpage.com in an ad that offered her for sexual purposes.

Police said they became aware of the situation when officers responded to the rear parking lot of the La Quinta Inn, 36 Jefferson Blvd., for a disturbance between a man and woman. As the officers arrived, they saw a silver Lexus with two people who matched the description given attempting to leave the lot and it was stopped. Police said the female was visibly shaking and began crying. The officers separated the female victim and inquired if she needed any kind of help. She indicated that she wanted to get away from and was in fear of the male subject, identified as Melvin Wilson. She said she just wanted to return home to Oklahoma but Wilson kept all her belongings, including clothes, identification and money in a room at the hotel.

Based on the above information, members of the Warwick Police Department Detective Division were called in to assist in the investigation. The investigation subsequently determined that Wilson was prostituting the victim out of the hotel. Melvin Wilson was charged with Trafficking of persons for forced labor or commercial sexual activity.

The investigation was conducted in conjunction with Day One, advocates for survivors of sexual abuse, who assisted the female victim. Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Warwick Police Department Detective Division at (401) 468-4233.

HOME INVASION

Warwick Police are still investigating the report of a stabbing at 2136 Warwick Ave. on Sept. 4 for the report of a man who was bleeding. Officers arrived and made contact with Antonio Rivera, 22, bleeding from a stab wound. Police said at least two men forced their way into Rivera’s residence and assaulted Rivera. Rivera indicated that he saw one of his assailants carrying a gun, but no shots were fired. Rivera was taken to Kent Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries he received in the assault. Police believe his assailants fled in a dark colored SUV. It is unknown if they took anything from the residence. The investigation continues.

POSSESSION

Officer Kevin McGuire reported going to Chuck E. Cheese around 6:25 p.m. on Aug. 30. Witnesses reported a man was going through cars in the parking lot, looking for stuff to steal. McGuire said he found the suspect going through a car and saw that objects in the car had been thrown about. Witnesses arrived and gave McGuire cause to arrest Taylor Bierbaum, 20, of 1 Leonard St. in Warren. He was charged with larceny. McGuire said he found marijuana and a pipe and several unused needles but no intravenous drugs. Bierbaum was charged with possession of alcohol and marijuana.

LARCENIES

Police reported a break into an unoccupied building on Cavalcade Boulevard on Sept. 3.Police said a representative from the bank that owned the house said he discovered the copper pipe under the sink and in the basement was cut out. No signs of forced entry. No suspects or witnesses.

A 10-speed Schwinn bike, a Honda chain saw, A Makita Sawzall and a Skill saw went missing from a garage on Irving Road sometime overnight on Aug. 31. They were worth a total of $220. No suspects or witnesses.

A Seekonk woman told police the mooring cover for her boat and the carpet for the decks went missing from their boat at the Harbor Light Marina on Aug. 31. She said the cabin cover was worth around $2,000 and the carpets around $500. No suspects or witnesses.

SHOPLIFTING

Loss prevention at the Wal-Mart on Post Road told police they caught Jonathan M. Reynolds, 34, of 529 Warwick Ave. concealing a number of knives and other merchandise worth around $28.35 on Sept. 1. They said he was stopped after he left without paying for the goods. Reynolds was charged as a habitual offender because of prior convictions for shoplifting and was currently on probation and a suspended sentence. He was held for the next session of District Court.

Leanne Santiago, 20, of 16 Birch St. in Warwick was charged with shoplifting at Kohl’s in the Rhode Island Mall on Aug. 25. Loss prevention told police she and some companions concealed $941.39 worth of merchandise before leaving the store without paying. The two other women and a juvenile fled the scene in a white minivan. She was later released with a summons.

DUI OR REFUSAL

Officer Joshua Myer reported an accident on Warwick Avenue on Aug. 17 and noticed that one of the drivers appeared to be drunk. He said he gave the driver a field sobriety test and he failed it. Kenneth F. Silvia II, 50, of 108 Pilgrim Dr. in Warwick was charged with DUI and refusal when he would not take a breath test at headquarters. He was later released to a sober adult.

Officer Aaron Kay reported stopping a black Jeep off of Oakland Beach Avenue after it swerved across the road and almost ran into the curb around 9:20 p.m. on Aug. 27. He said he stopped the car on Pequot Avenue and noticed that the driver appeared to be intoxicated. He said he had the woman get out of the Jeep and take a field sobriety test. He said she tried to push out of the car without opening the door and he helped her. He said she stumbled but said she could take a field test. He said she smelled strongly of alcohol and she failed the test. Patricia A. Brown Knapton, 57, of 18 Logan St. in Warwick was taken to headquarters where she refused to take a breath test. She was charged with DUI and refusal and later released to a sober adult.

Officer Nicholas Reay reported stopping a car for driving erratically at 50 miles per hour on West Shore Road around 11:20 p.m. on Aug. 29. He said the driver admitted, “I’m cocked” when he was asked to get out of the car and he failed the field sobriety test, saying, “I can’t do this, I’m drunk.” David A. D’Angelo, 56, of 177 Medford St. in Warwick was charged with DUI and refusal after he would not take a breath test at headquarters. He was also charged with laned roadway violations and speeding. He was later released to a sober adult.

Officer Evan Brent reported that he was dispatched to a rollover accident with injuries near Herb’s Towing on West Shore Road around 1:34 a.m. on Sept. 1. Brent said he arrived to find witnesses that said the driver of the rolled over car got out of his car and into another car that was driving away but the driver of the accident vehicle exited the second car and fled on foot toward the Mickey Stephens Sports Complex. He said another officer called shortly after that to say he had the man in custody on Whitford Street and Warwick Rescue was transporting him to Rhode Island Hospital and Brent was to ride with him in the ambulance. He said the suspect told him he wanted to speak with his lawyer. Brent said he was allowed to make several private calls before Brent asked him if he would submit to a blood test. He said Christopher Miller, 21, of 84 Steele Ave. in Warwick, refused. He was charged with DUI and refusal.

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