FATAL HIT-AND-RUN

Police continue to investigate a hit-run-run incident on Airport Road that left a West Warwick man dead.

According to a statement from Detective Capt. Ryan Sornberger, authorities responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident in front of the Speedway at 61 Airport Road at approximately 4 a.m. on Dec. 22.

Personnel arriving at the scene found Donald L. Boss, 51, lying in the roadway with “significant injuries,” according to the detective. Boss later died at Rhode Island Hospital.

According to police, the vehicle involved in the incident fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. Airport Road was closed for some time after the incident.

“The investigation is still ongoing, but all of the people were familiar with each another,” Sornerberger said in his statement. “Excessive speed or other hazardous roadway conditions do not appear to be a factor in the accident.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call police at 401-468-4200 or leave a confidential tip at 401-732-8477.

DUI

A Rhode Island State Police cruiser engaged in a motor vehicle stop near exit 19 on I-95 south in Warwick was rear-ended by another vehicle on the night of Dec. 19, and the operator has been charged with impaired driving.

Alfredo Falcon-Benitez, 41, of Central Falls has been charged with driving under the influence, driving to endanger and operating with a suspended license, according to a press release from State Police. He was additionally cited for refusal to submit to a chemical test. He was being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a bail review hearing.

According to State Police, the cruiser was pushed into the stopped vehicle after it was struck by the vehicle driven by Falcon-Benitez, but neither the trooper nor any of the operators were seriously hurt. In a tweet, the agency said the trooper is “doing well and recovering at home.”

“I am thankful that the Trooper and the other motorist involved were not seriously injured,” State Police Col. James Manni said in the release. “This is yet another reminder, especially at this time of the year, of the potential tragedy that can occur by deciding to drink and drive.”

VANDALISM

Shortly before 9 a.m. on Dec. 8, Officer Derek Hagopian met with a reporting party at Warwick Police headquarters regarding damage to a motor vehicle.

The reporting party told Hagopian that at approximately 8 a.m. that morning, she discovered “deep scratches” to the passenger side of her 2015 Acura RDX.

“The scratches ran from the front passenger door to the rear passenger side quarters,” the officer reports. “It appeared that someone had keyed the vehicle.”

The reporting party told Hagopian she had been shopping on Bald Hill Road the previous afternoon, and she believed the damage may have occurred while she was inside Target.

The matter was documented and forwarded to detectives. ***

At approximately 7:42 p.m. on Dec. 11, Officer Kevin Warren responded to a Ryan Avenue home for a report of stolen yard decorations.

At the scene, the reporting party told Warren that earlier that afternoon, his neighbor had returned an electronic Snoopy Christmas decoration to his property. The neighbor told the reporting party he had discovered the decoration on his lawn. The decoration had been damaged, with its cord pulled out and separated from the plug. It has last been seen in undamaged condition at approximately 5 p.m. on Dec. 10.

A canvas of the neighborhood for security cameras was unsuccessful. The matter was documented.

LARCENY

Just before 5 p.m. on Dec. 11, Officer Richard Odell responded to the Delvecchio barber shop on Ladd Street for a report of a previous larceny incident.

At the scene, the reporting party told Odell a package containing a pair of cordless hair clippers valued at $200 had been stolen. The reporting party shared security camera footage in which an Amazon driver is seen bringing the package to the building, setting it down, taking a picture of it, and then picking the package back up before walking away.

The matter was documented. ***

Just before 10 a.m. on Dec. 17, Officer Jeffrey Taranto responded to East Coast Irrigation & Power at 984 Post Road for a report of larceny.

At the scene, the reporting party told Taranto that a go-kart valued at approximately $1,200 had been stolen from the property sometime the previous night. A padlocked chain securing a fenced-in portion of the business had been cut.

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

SHOPLIFTING

At approximately 6:52 p.m. on Dec. 11, Officer Jessica Masso responded to the JCPenney store at the Warwick Mall for a report of shoplifting. Dispatch advised that employees at the store had a female suspect in custody.

At the scene, a loss prevention officer at the store told Masso that the suspect had been observed concealing clothing items from multiple departments in a baby carriage before exiting the store without making any attempt to pay. At that point, employees met the suspect and escorted her back inside. The stolen merchandise, which was recovered, had a combined value of $150, according to JCPenney.

Donna A. Wood, 41, 46 Crawford St., West Warwick, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. She was later released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court.

***

At approximately 11:44 a.m. on Dec. 16, Officer Steven Moretti responded to the Macy’s store at the Warwick Mall for a report of shoplifting. Dispatch advised that a male suspect was in the custody of asset protection personnel.

At the scene, a Macy’s employee told Moretti the suspect had been observed selecting a men’s jacket and putting it on before exiting the store without making any attempt to pay. At that point, the suspect was met by store employees and escorted back inside. The jacket, valued at $79, was recovered.

David A. Maldonado, 26, 50 Murray St., Apt. 40, Coventry, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was later released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court.

WARRANTS

At approximately 4 a.m. on Nov. 29, Officer Nia Pina was conducting a routine patrol when she was a 2012 Chevrolet Cruz turn onto Strawberry Field Road without using a signal.

Pina initiated a motor vehicle stop and made contact with the operator, who was found through a records check to be wanted on an active arrest warrant issued from West Warwick Police.

Damian J. Machado, 25, 132 Fordson Ave., Apt. 7, Cranston, was taken into custody on the warrant and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was transferred into the custody of West Warwick Police. ***

Shortly after 12 a.m. on Dec. 4, Officer Zachary Black was conducting a patrol in a marked vehicle heading north on Bald Hill Road when he observed a 2019 Toyota Carolla switch lanes without a turn signal.

Black followed the vehicle and initiated a stop just after the Interstate 95 south ramp on East Avenue. He made contact with the operator and sole passenger, who was found through a records check to be wanted on two bench warrants issued from Sixth Division District Court.

Jamel C. Newman, 23, 86 Ellery St., Apt. 3, Providence, was taken into custody on the warrants and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was later transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

***

At approximately 4:23 a.m. on Dec. 10, Officer Zachary Black was conducting a patrol in a marked cruiser when he observed a man walking eastbound along Lambert Lind Highway.

Black stopped to make contact with the man, who advised he was heading to a nearby apartment complex. A records check then found the man was wanted on two active bench warrants issued from Sixth Division District Court.

Raymond J. Martin Jr., 47, 201 Randall St., Cranston, was taken into custody on the warrants and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was later transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions to await a court appearance.

***

Shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19, Officer Justin Martin was conducting a routine patrol in a marked cruiser when he observed a 1992 Buick, bearing an antique plate, in the area of Jefferson Boulevard and Coronado Road. According to Martin, snow was partially obscuring the rear license plate.

A records check revealed the vehicle’s registered owner was wanted on an active bench warrant issued from Sixth Division District Court. Martin reports he was able to confirm the operator of the vehicle was the registered owner based on driver’s license records and observations from the Buick’s side mirrors.

Martin initiated a motor vehicle stop and made contact with the operator. After confirming her identity, he placed her under arrest.

Debbie Medeiros, 38, 413 Dexter St., Central Falls, was taken into custody on the warrant and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. She was later transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions to await a court appearance.

LOST PROPERTY

At approximately 4:21 p.m. on Nov. 21, Officer Kevin Warren met with a reporting party in the lobby of Warwick Police headquarters regarding a lost wallet.

The reporting party told Warren he had been at the Stop & Shop gas station on Sandy Lane between 10 and 11:15 a.m. that morning and believed he had left his wallet on the top of his vehicle when he drove away. The wallet was said to contain a driver’s license, bank card, medical cards and $500 in cash.

The matter was documented at the reporting party’s request in order to access security camera footage from the gas station.

***

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, Officer Brenen Cardoza spoke with a reporting party regarding a missing wallet.

The reporting party told Cardoza she had returned to her vehicle after shopping at IM Gan Discount Liquor, located at 380 Warwick Ave., at approximately 1:15 p.m. that day when she discovered her wallet was missing. The reporting party had the wallet when she made her purchase from the store, although when she and staff members checked, it could not be located. Security camera footage was not immediately available.

According to the reporting party, the wallet contained approximately $100 in cash, a driver’s license and several debit and credit cards.

A follow-up check with the liquor store found the wallet had not been turned in to staff in the hours since the incident. The matter was documented.