DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On August 19 at approximately 5:18 p.m., Officer David Boardman was on patrol traveling north on Oakland Beach Avenue when he observed that the vehicle in front of him was swerving within the lane of travel. The car proceeded onto Warwick Avenue, where it crossed the double yellow line and changed lanes without using a turn signal. According to the police report, a traffic stop was initiated in the parking lot of Mizu Japanese Steakhouse restaurant, and contact was made with the driver, identified as Ashley Liddle, 32, of 25 Easton Avenue Apt. 203 in Warwick.

According to the police narrative, Liddle showed signs of intoxication and the officer detected the smell of alcohol as he spoke with her. Liddle stated she was coming from a friend’s house and was heading home. She also told the officer that she had one glass of wine and that she just wanted to go home.

Liddle consented to a series of standardized sobriety tests. During the tests, she was quoted as saying “I just want to go home. I just want to walk home. Can you let me go?” Based on her performance during the tests, along with the officer’s experience and training, it was determined that Liddle was unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely. She was then taken into custody and transported to police headquarters. There she consented to a chemical breathalyzer test, which produced blood alcohol readings of .167 and .160 percent.

Before being transported to Kent Hospital for detoxification, Liddle was charged with driving under the influence, first offense, laned roadway violations as well as turn signal required.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Officer Derek Mourato was on location in the area of Lambert Lind Highway on August 21 at approximately 9:09 p.m. when he observed a car pass his location with a driver who was not wearing a seatbelt. A traffic stop was then initiated and contact was made with Joseann Espanol, 18, of 89 Wine Street in Cranston.

Background checks were run on Espanol, according to the police report, where it was discovered that Espanol’s license was suspended. He was issued violations for driving on a suspended license, second offense, and for not wearing a seat belt. At the completion of the stop, a passenger with an active license took custody of the vehicle and drove it from the scene.

SHOPLIFTING

At approximately 1:40 p.m. on August 24, Officer Tomas Bogusz was dispatched to the Ocean State Job Lot on Warwick Avenue for a report of a shoplifter in custody.

At the store, the officer met with a loss prevention associate who had detained a subject, later identified as Stephen Tucker, 67, of 41 Hartford Pl. in Warwick. Security stated that they observed Tucker select several items, which were then concealed in his pockets. Tucker then made his way to the front of the store and passed all points of sale without paying. He was then apprehended outside of the store.

A total of $68.89 worth of merchandise was recovered from Tucker, who was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters where he was issued a court summons for a shoplifting charge.

CONSPIRACY

On August 24 at 2:36 p.m., Officer Christian Vargas was dispatched to the Burlington store on Bald Hill Road for a report of a past shoplifting with no one in custody at the time.

At the scene the officer met with a loss prevention associate who stated that on the previous date an employee had witnessed two females allegedly shoplifting from the store. A review of store security footage confirmed the shoplifting of six pairs of shoes, and the store wished to file a police report. One suspect was described as wearing an orange tank top, blue jeans and white and blue flip-flops who was carrying a brown purse and was wearing brown/black glasses. The second suspect was described as wearing a black and white blouse, shorts, with black and white flip flops, white sunglasses, and carrying a gray purse.

Video footage appears to indicate that price tags were removed with an unknown tool. The total loss to the store was $359.94. A police report was taken and forwarded to department detectives for review.

BRACELETS TAKEN

Officer Thomas Duncan was dispatched to The Paper Store on Bald Hill Road on August 24 at 9:09 p.m. for a shoplifting complaint.

Once at the scene the officer met with a store employee, who stated that around 8:45 p.m., an unknown black male wearing a dark colored baseball cap with a red rim, black t-shirt and blue jeans entered the store. The employee said that the suspect allegedly took six Alex and Ani bracelets and walked to the front of the store. There he returned one of the bracelets. While an employee was assisting another customer, the man exited the store without paying and set of the security alarms.

A total of approximately $140 worth of merchandise was stolen, and the store wished to pursue charges. The case was forwarded to detectives for review.

FELONY SHOPLIFTING

Michael Porreca, 60, of 25 Sweet Street Apt. A in Warwick, was arrested on August 28 just after 3:17 p.m. for allegedly shoplifting.

According to the police report, Officer Walter Larson was dispatched to the Warwick Mall Macy’s on the above date for a report of a shoplifter at custody. At the store a security officer advised that she had Porreca in custody for shoplifting. The employee advised the officer that she had monitored him through surveillance footage, and stated that he had taken packs of socks, and underwear and concealed them in a black bag. He then exited the store without making an attempt to pay before being detained by security.

A total of $124 worth of merchandise was taken. Due to his numerous prior shoplifting charges, he was transported to police headquarters where he was charged with one count of felony shoplifting and one count of habitual shoplifting. He was held as a violator as he was given a year’s probation and a year’s suspended sentence on January 4, 2014 for misdemeanor shoplifting.