BREAKING & ENTERING ARREST

Warwick Police have made an arrest related to a string of breaking and entering incidents involving city businesses.

Between the dates of Jan. 13-17, five separate restaurants in the city of Warwick were broken into during the late night/early morning, according to Warwick Police.

The following restaurants were victimized: Gel’s Kitchen, PB&J, Sunnyside, Demo’s Pizza Factory and California Taco.

“Through the course of investigating these incidents, a suspect was developed,” according to a Warwick Police press release.

On Feb. 1, following a joint effort by the Patrol Division and Detective Division, the suspect was stopped for operation of an unregistered motor vehicle and having a suspended license, police said. The man was arrested, taken into custody, questioned by detectives, and several search warrants were executed, according to police.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of George Andrews, 52, of Warwick.

Andrews was transported to Third Division District Court for arraignment on the following criminal charges: five counts of Breaking and Entering; one count of Operating on a Suspended License.

EMBEZZLEMENT

Around noon on Jan. 27, Warwick Police were dispatched to Nordstrom Rack, 400 Bald Hill Road, for the report of a larceny in progress. Police were advised that a former employee was in their office and had been allegedly “committing fraudulent returns.” The employee was terminated that day, and store management told police they wanted to press charges.

Loss Prevention Officers at the store told police that spanning from Dec. 31, 2022, to Jan. 15, 2023, a now former employee identified as Susan E. Gonsalves, 47, of 28 Cross Road, East Falmouth, Massachusetts, had embezzled money from the store 13 times, totaling $1,173.46.

Store security told police that while Gonsalves was working, she “had put her employee info in and bypassed the ID for proof of purchase and put the money for the items in which she had never purchased onto her bank account,” according to the arrest report.

For another nine transactions, Gonsalves allegedly purchased items, filed a returned transaction, but never actually returned the items, putting the money back into her bank account. Store security told police that Gonsalves admitted to “fraudulently putting the money back into her bank account and not returning the items.”

The store told police they have video surveillance evidence.

Store security also asked police to issue a No Trespass order against Gonsalves.

Gonsalves was arrested and transported to the Warwick Police Department. She was charged with one count of Embezzlement and Fraudulent Conversion (greater than $100) and transported to Third District Court.

DUI

Around 1:11 a.m., Jan. 28, Warwick Police Officer Keara M. Enos was on specialized RIPTIDE (Rhode Island Police Teaming for Impaired Driving Enforcement) patrol driving north on Post Road near Airport Road when her attention was drawn toward the tail lights of a vehicle traveling ahead.

Enos noted in the arrest report that the vehicle appeared to be traveling  at a rate of speed well above the posted speed limit. Enos noted the vehicle was traveling too close to another vehicle, and crossing lanes.

Due to construction in the area, Enos followed the vehicle for an extended period of time, onto the ramp for Interstate 95 North, until she felt it was safe to initiate a traffic stop.

Enos identified the driver as Johan L. Molina, 30, of 55 Secluded Drive, Narragansett.

Enos noted Molina had bloodshot, watery eyes. He allegedly fumbled his wallet while handing over his identification. Enos said she smelled alcohol.

He was asked to step out of the vehicle.

“As he stood beside me, Molina moved and leaned very close to my person, and specifically close to the right side of my duty belt,” Enos wrote. “As he drew close to me, I again detected the strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from Molina’s breath. For officer safety reasons, I instructed Molina to step back from me, which he made a face appeared offended by. Molina then put his hands in his pockets, and I quickly instructed him to take his hands out of his pockets.”

Police said Molina grew agitated and did not follow commands. Police also said they found an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Police eventually placed Molina under arrest for suspicion of DUI. He was transported to the Warwick Police Department.

Molina was charged with one count of Driving While under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drug (BAC unknown, first offense) and issued citations for Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Breath Test (first offense), Turn Signal Required, Interval Between Vehicles and Laned Roadway Violations.

After he was processed, Molina was released to the custody of a “sober adult.”