BANK ROBBERY

On Friday, Jan. 5, Warwick Police responded to TD Bank at 2625 West Shore Road in Warwick following the report of a robbery around 5:50 p.m.

According to a Warwick Police press release, the suspect was “described as a Hispanic male wearing glasses and a facemask, walked into the bank, armed with a handgun, and demanded money from a teller.”

The man jumped over the counter and grabbed around $5,000 from of the cash drawer, before he fled the scene in a black pick-up truck.

“Gun was displayed,” Warwick Police Chief Col. Bradford Connor wrote in a text message that evening. “(The) suspect vehicle seen driving at high rate of speed north on Warwick Ave and west on Airport Rd.  Officers were attempting to catch up to the vehicle when it struck another vehicle.”

The suspect drove east on Sandy Lane toward Warwick Avenue.

Responding officers spotted the suspect driving north on Warwick Avenue, without registration plates. They tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver “refused, leading officers on a high speed pursuit north on Warwick Ave, onto Airport Rd, and only ended after it broadsided another vehicle at the Airport Rd and Post Rd intersection,” police said.

The Warwick Police Accident Reconstruction unit was called in to assist patrol officers with the crash scene at the intersection of Airport and Post roads.

“This crash involved a fleeing vehicle believed to be involved in a robbery at the TD Bank on West Shore Rd in Warwick,” police said. “Accident Recon officers determined that the fleeing vehicle, described as a black Toyota Tundra, was travelling westbound on Airport Rd at a high rate of speed when it attempted to take a left against a red traffic signal to turn south onto Post Rd. As the Tundra entered the intersection it struck a Honda minivan which was turning left from Post Rd onto Airport Rd eastbound.”

Police took the driver into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation with minor injuries.

The driver of the minivan and two juvenile passengers were transported to Rhode Island and Hasbro Children’s Hospitals. The children suffered minor injuries and the driver, moderate injuries, police said.

“Passengers and driver of the second vehicle were transported to RI (Hospital) and Hasbro (with) non life threatening injuries,” according to Connor.

Police arrested Roy Mangum, 38, of Warwick. They said he “was still in possession of the stolen money.”

Mangum was injured in the crash he allegedly caused, and transported to the hospital. Police said he will be held on the several charges, including First Degree Robbery, Carrying a dangerous weapon when committing a crime of violence, Possession of a firearm by persons convicted of crime of violence, and eluding an officer at high speed. Police said other charges are still pending.

“This is an active criminal and traffic investigation, updates will be provided in future press releases,” police said. “Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact WPD at 401-468-4200.”

Anonymous tips can be submitted via the WARWICKPD app or text WARWICKPD to 847411

According to a report by WPRI, police recovered a loaded handgun, likely used in the robbery, the next morning in the middle of Warwick Avenue (reported by the tipster who found it)

DUI

At 1:22 a.m., Dec. 14, Warwick Police Officer Connor R. Bemis was traveling east on Route 37 near the Post Road exit, near the Lincoln Park Cemetery, when he spotted a white Kia “traveling at a low rate of speed directly in front of my cruiser,” according to the arrest report.

The vehicle was allegedly swerving, and Bemis notes that his cruiser windows were partially open and he could smell “the strong odor of suspected burning rubber in the area.”

The Kia “fully sharply” swerved into the breakdown lane and came to an “abrupt stop.”

Bemis turned on his emergency lights and siren and approached the vehicle. He identified the driver as Richard A. Lataille, 60, of 76 Park St., Apt. 10, Pawtucket.

The driver told police that he had “blown out a tire.”

The front passenger’s side tire was “completely destroyed, almost down to the rim.” Police said it appeared he had been driving on “the flat tire for an extended period of time.”

Lataille allegedly told police that he had “one drink,” but Bemis “detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage.” Police said he was slurring his speech and had bloodshot, wateruy eyes.

Police asked Lataille to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He agreed. Following the tests, Lataille was arrested and charged DUI of Liquor (BAC unknown, first offense), and was cited for Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (first offense) and Use of Emergency Breakdown Lane.

DUI

Around 6:05 p.m., Dec. 16, Warwick Police on routine patrol in the vicinity of 1 Jefferson Boulevard, spotted a white Audi stopped in the westbound lane near the intersection with Okeefe Lane.

Warwick Police Officer Bryan C. Araujo turned his vehicle around and the Audi jumped the curb and sped through a red light, according to the arrest report.

Police followed the car and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, but the car continued south on Jefferson Boulevard at a high rate of speed and entered the northbound lane “to overtake traffic.”

The car turned left into the Teamworks parking lot. Police identified the driver as Luis F. Ortiz, 27, of 39 Burton St., Cranston. He was standing outside his parked vehicle, but police noted that he was not parked in a parking space and the vehicle was still running.

Police said Ortiz smelled like alcohol and had slurred speech, watery eyes and appeared unsteady on his feet.

Police asked Ortiz to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He agreed. Following the tests, he was arrested and charged DUI of Liquor (BAC 0.15 or greater, first offense), and was cited for Failure to Maintain Proper Control of Vehicle, Obedience to Traffic Control Devices, and Overtaking on the Left.