The Police Log is a digest of reports filed by the Warwick Police Department.

STEEL PLATES STOLEN

On Aug. 6, Sergeant Andy Sullivan learned of a larceny of steel plates from an address on Elm Street in Warwick. Officer Dan Maggiacomo informed him the property owner had posted video clips on Facebook of the suspect and vehicle on the property taking the steel plates. After researching the matter and confirming a police report had been filed, Sullivan requested Lt. Hopkins post the video clips on the Warwick Police Facebook page for identification purposes. An anonymous tip was received that the subject in the video was Jason Carter, who Sullivan said he dealt with last month for the theft of a lawn mower that was resolved civilly through restitution to the victim. Sullivan then compared video footage of that incident to footage of the current incident and noted the truck was identical, down to a sticker or marking on the gas cap cover.

On Aug. 10, Carter responded to Warwick Police headquarters, where he admitted to being the person on the video stealing the five steel plates. Although many more plates are missing from that location, Carter denied any other thefts from there. He was informed further investigation would be completed and would result in further charges if he were responsible. Sullivan said he took photos of the truck, which was parked at the police department at the time. Sullivan said it now had a diamond plated style toolbox in the bed and had far less stickers on it than in the video, which he suspected Carter removed upon seeing the vehicle on Facebook to avoid detection. Carter confirmed this and said a magnetic decal had been on the gas cap cover previously.

Jason F. Carter, 36, of 1161 West Shore Road, Warwick, was processed and charged with larceny under $1,500. He admitted to stealing a truckload of steel plates, which he said was four total. The victim believes it was five. Each plate is valued at $195, for a total of $975. Carter was transported to Kent County Courthouse for arraignment.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFIT FRAUD

Robert Wright, 71, of Warwick, pleaded nolo contendere on Aug. 16 before Superior Court Justice Maureen Keough to one count of obtaining money under false pretense for collecting $6,981 in unemployment insurance benefits while he was working. Wright was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution at a rate of no less than $120 per month.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on diverse dates between Dec. 18, 2010 and Jan. 17, 2012, Wright failed to accurately report his weekly earnings to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training when he called in to the R.I. DLT Teleserve voice response system to authorize his weekly unemployment benefits. While Wright was collecting unemployment benefits he was working for MF Construction in Portsmouth.

"Nearly every month, my Office is successfully prosecuting another individual for defrauding our unemployment insurance system," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. "The partnership between my Office, RI DLT and the Rhode Island State Police is an excellent example of state agencies working cooperatively to stop fraud and abuse in our social service programs."

The case was initiated by RI DLT fraud investigator Andrew Allin and then referred to the Rhode Island State Police where the investigation was led by Investigator Michael Douglas. Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

BENCH WARRANT

On Aug. 9 at 2:19 a.m., Officer Brian Fontaine was on routine patrol in a marked police cruiser, traveling northbound on Bald Hill Road when he observed a silver Ford Explorer bearing R.I. registration also traveling northbound on Bald Hill Rd. The vehicle had a rear plate light that was not illuminated and the registration came back as being registered to a blue Honda, as well as a bench warrant for the registered owner. A motor vehicle stop was initiated in the area of East Avenue at Baker Street.

Upon making contact with the operator, later identified as Christopher G. Dumont, 33, of 21 Lachance Street, West Warwick, and asking for his driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance, Dumont said he did not have the registration to his vehicle because he purchased it recently. When asked for his license, Dumont said, “We are going to have problems.” When asked what he meant by that, Dumont said his license was expired. A check run on Dumont confirmed he did have a Third District Court bench warrant, and a check of the vin number of the vehicle did come back to a 2004 Ford Explorer, which was the vehicle Dumont was operating.

Additional officers responded to the scene for assistance and Dumont was taken into custody and searched incident to arrest, during which he was found to be in possession of 3.2 grams of marijuana, which was seized and tagged.

During a search of Dumont’s vehicle, a prescription bottle prescribed to him for Amoxicillin capsules was found inside of the center console. Inside the prescription bottle was a lighter, a pipe, and multiple small green tablet pills. Checks were conducted on the pills and it was determined the pills were Clonazepam. The total amount of the pills was 17.5. The Clonazepam was also seized and tagged.

Dumont was taken into custody based upon his bench warrant from Third District Court and was also charged with possession of schedule I-IV. He was also issued violations for operation of an unregistered motor vehicle and possession of marijuana 1 ounce or less.

DRUGS

On Aug. 10 at 7:28 p.m., Officer Ryan Lancaster was dispatched to the area of 85 Airport Road for a report of a subject stumbling into the roadway. Upon arrival in that area, Lancaster found a white male subject wearing a red shirt and tan cargo pants standing on the sidewalk in front of this address. He was leaning against a fence and appeared to be having difficulty standing and maintaining his balance. He was also wearing only one shoe.

As he approached the man, Lancaster said he noticed immediate signs of intoxication, including swaying from side to side while standing, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. The man identified himself as Paul Souza. He said he had consumed vodka that day, approximately two hours ago, and had taken the bus to Warwick from Providence and had just got off the bus at the intersection of Warwick Avenue and Airport Road and started walking down Airport Road. He said he was in Warwick to visit his girlfriend, who lives somewhere on Douglass Avenue but he did not know the address.

Lancaster had Souza sit on the curb since he was having difficulty standing. While Lancaster ran checks on Souza to confirm his identity, Sgt. John McAniff observed the clip side of a knife in Souza’s front pocket and asked him if he had any weapons on him. Souza said he had two knives. Based on this information, McAniff conducted a pat down of Souza. He removed the first knife from his front right pocket and asked where the other knife was located. Souza said it was in his right leg pocket. In addition to removing the second knife, McAniff said there a number of other items, including Souza’s wallet, $252.21 in U.S. currency, mostly consisting of $20 bills, and a pill bottle, which Souza said contained Adderall, which he did not have a prescription for, as well as other drugs.

Upon observing the plastic pill bottle, Lancaster said he could clearly see multiple blue colored pills as well as multiple small plastic baggies containing an unknown substance that he believed to be illegal narcotics.

After opening the container for further investigation, Lancaster said there were eight blue plastic pill capsules, two small plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance, five small baggies containing a white/brown hard rock-like substance, and three small baggie corners containing a brown powdery substance.

Souza told Lancaster the pills were Adderall, the white powdery substance was cocaine, the rock-like substance was crack, and the brown powdery substance was heroin. Souza was taken into custody and transported to Warwick Police headquarters without incident, where he was processed and maintained the substances he had were for personal use.

Lancaster said a field test of the substances resulted in the following findings: the blue plastic capsules had a hard substance inside, which tested positive for amphetamines, weighing 1.4 grams; the white powdery substance displayed an inconclusive result for cocaine, which Souza said was “crap cocaine,” and weighed 0.3 grams; the white/brown hard rock-like substance tested positive for amphetamines and weighed 1 gram; and the brown powdery substance tested positive for opium alkaloids and weighed 0.6 grams.

Paul A. Souza, 49, of 11 Broad Street, Coventry, was charged with the following: one count of possession with intent to deliver a schedule I narcotic for heroin; one count of possession with intent to deliver a schedule II narcotic for crack cocaine; and two counts of possession of a schedule II narcotic for the powder cocaine and Adderall.