MOTORCYCLE CRASH

A Hope man was hospitalized following a Fourth of July motorcycle crash on Route 37, according to a statement from Warwick Police Lt. John Kelly.

Officers responded to the Route 37 west on-ramp from Post Road just before 5 a.m. on July 4 following reports of a single-vehicle crash, Kelly said. It was then determined that a motorcycle had collided with a highway fixture.

The operator and sole occupant of the motorcycle, identified as 39-year-old Matthew Medeiros, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

“Due to the extent of the driver’s injuries the Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team was called in to investigate,” Kelly’s statement reads. “It appears that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.”

Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact the Warwick Police Traffic Division at 468-4243.

DUI

At approximately 9 p.m. on July 3, Officer Christopher Gillis and other officers responded to the area of 926 Quaker Lane for a report of an intoxicated operator. Dispatch then advised that the suspect vehicle was stopped at a traffic light with its male operator “slumped over the wheel.”

At the scene, Gillis found a black Hyundai Elantra with Connecticut registration stopped in one of the northbound lanes on Quaker Lane with its hazard lights on. “The vehicle had come to a stop with the front half of the vehicle past the stop line,” the officer reports, “and I observed the operator with his head down and appeared to be sleeping behind the wheel.”

Gillis then awoke and made contact with the operator, and he reports immediately detecting the odor of alcohol coming from the inside of the vehicle. The operator “spoke with extremely slurred speech and I observed him to have bloodshot and watery eyes,” the office reports.

The operator is said to have acknowledged consuming alcohol that night and agreed to undergo a field sobriety test, which he reportedly failed.

Aaron R. Panco, 45, Groton, Connecticut, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. While at headquarters, Panco is said to have declined a chemical breath test.

Panco was later released into the custody of a sober relative and issued a summons to appear in Third Division District Court on a charge of driving under the influence. He was additionally cited for refusal to submit to a chemical test and places where parking/stopping prohibited.

LARCENY

At approximately 8:15 a.m. on June 25, Officer James Vible responded to a construction site at 300 Crossings Boulevard for a report of larceny from a vehicle.

At the scene, a foreman told Vible that the catalytic converter had been stolen from a white 2015 GMC Sierra pickup truck parked within a fenced area at the site. The foreman said the vehicle had been parked and secured at approximately 3 p.m. on June 23, and the damage was discovered at approximately 7 a.m. on June 25.

A reciprocating saw blade was found underneath the vehicle and was submitted as evidence. The matter was documented and forwarded to detectives.

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Just before 5 p.m. on June 28, Officer Thomas Paine responded to a St. Claire Avenue home for a report of larceny.

At the scene, the reporting party told Paine that his son’s dirt bike had been stolen from the home’s backyard shed. The theft was discovered on June 11, but the reporting party said he waited to contact police until he had information regarding the bike’s VIN number and make/model. The bike was described as a green Kawasaki KX60 dirt bike.

No security camera footage was available. The matter was documented and forwarded to detectives.

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Just after 8 a.m. on June 29, Officer Alfred Melucci Jr. responded to the Town Fair Tire location at 1085 Bald Hill Road for a report of stolen catalytic converters.

At the scene, the reporting party told Melucci that the catalytic converters had been stolen from three of his work trucks – all Ford F-150s – sometime between June 27 and June 29. The damage was discovered due to the exhaust system being “extremely loud” when the vehicles were started. The catalytic converters were valued at approximately $1,000 each.

No security camera footage was available. The matter was documented.

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Just before 4:30 p.m. on June 29, Officer Thomas Paine responded to the Stop & Shop supermarket at 2470 Warwick Ave. for a report of larceny.

At the scene, the reporting party said he left his black Shogun 21-speed bicycle, valued at approximately $50, leaning against the building while he shopped inside. When he returned, the bike was gone.

Security camera footage was not immediately available. The matter was documented.

SHOPLIFTING

Just before noon on June 27, Officer David Boardman responded to the Ann & Hope location at 1689 Post Road regarding a previous shoplifting incident.

At the scene, a loss prevention associate told Boardman that a male suspect had entered the store shortly before 12:30 p.m. on June 26 and taken a rug valued at between $100 and $200 without making any attempt to pay.

The matter was documented, and police requested security camera footage from the store.

ATTEMPTED LARCENY

Shortly after 7 p.m. on June 23, Officer Anthony D’Abrosca responded to the JCPenney location at the Warwick Mall for a report of malicious damage to a vehicle.

At the scene, the reporting party told D’Abrosca she arrived in the parking lot of the JCPenney at approximately 5 p.m. As she exited her vehicle, she saw two people sitting in another car and “thought it was odd that they were just sitting in the car watching passers-by.” The woman then went into the store to shop, and when she returned to her vehicle at approximately 7 p.m., her key would not fit into the lock on the door. She then discovered the door was slightly ajar and the keyhole was broken.

All of the vehicle’s doors were locked and the woman was unable to open the vehicle due to her key fob being inoperable. Warwick Fire personnel responded to the scene and opened the vehicle as a courtesy.

No security camera footage was available. The matter was documented.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Shortly after 2 p.m. on June 30, officers Nicholas DeMarco and Jacob Elderkin were conducting a patrol when they observed the operator of a black 2014 Jeep Patriot not wearing a seat belt.

The officers initiated a motor vehicle stop on Bald Hill Road and made contact with the operator, who is said to have told the officers his driver’s license was suspended. A records check found that to be the case and also revealed the operator had three previous convictions for driving with a suspended license.

John B. Cornell, 23, 25 Chase Road, Coventry, was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license, third or subsequent offense, and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was later released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court. He was additionally cited for no seat belt/operator.

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Shortly before 9:30 a.m. on July 2, officers Nicholas DeMarco and Jacob Elderkin were conducting a stationary traffic post on East Avenue when they observed a gold 2001 Buick Regal traveling 59 mph in a 40 mph zone.

The officers initiated a motor vehicle stop on East Avenue and made contact with the operator, who is said to have told the officers his driver’s license was suspended. A records check confirmed that information and found the operator had at least two previous convictions for driving with a suspended license.

Charles Perry, 36, 745A Main St., Apt. 21, West Warwick, was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license, third or subsequent offense, and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. Perry was later released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court.