Crime & Safety

Police Log: Fraud, DUIs, Walmart Shoplifters

The following arrests and incidents were reported by North Kingstown Police. They do not indicate a conviction.

FRAUD
On March 6, a Congdon Avenue man told police that someone opened a fraudulent account with Verizon in his name.

Police said the man told them that the account was opened on Feb. 18 and once he was aware that the account was opened, he called Verizon right away.

Verizon is handling the fraud investigation and police said the matter was documented. 

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On March 7, a Weavers Road resident told police that someone had racked up nearly $600 in charges on his debit card.

Police said the man said he noticed two pending charges on his card on March 5. One charge was for $266.43. The other was for $331.13.

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The victim was able to contact the company associated with the first charge – a musical supply store – and was able to get the shipment, which was supposed to go to New Jersey, recalled.

The second company was contacted and the victim was told that they had already caught the fraudulent charge and stopped it.

The victim told police he has already contacted his bank to report the fraudulent charges.

The matter was documented.

ATV DRIVER WARNED
North Kingstown Police warned a 22-year-old Walmsley Lane man to stop driving his ATV on public roads after complaints.

Police said they told the man, who lives in South Kingstown right on the border of North Kingstown, that there would be consequences if he drives his ATV on the road.

The man reportedly denied driving his ATV on the street, but a responding officer said there were visible tracks from his property onto the roadway.

DUIs
North Kingstown Police charged Michael D. Tobin, 60, of 29 Beech Road, Narragansett, with driving under the influence and refusing a chemical test March 7 after he was stopped on Post Road at around 10:10 p.m.

Police said they were alerted to Tobin by a caller who said he was seen leaving a nearby store and almost “hit everything in sight,” according to a police report.

Tobin reportedly failed a field sobriety test.

He was also cited for a lane violation.

Police charged Manuel Torres III, 29, of 582 Devil’s Foot Road, with driving under the influence and refusing a chemical test March 8 at around 2:39 a.m. after a traffic stop on Tower Hill Road.

Police said Torres was observed swaying in his lane before he was pulled over.

He subsequently failed a field sobriety test, police said.

On March 9, police charged Matthew Charles Murgo, 24, with driving under the influence after he allegedly crashed on Exeter Road and fled the scene.

Police said they caught up with Murgo outside his house, where he had struck another car while pulling into the driveway.

Murgo, who said he left the first accident because he was the only person involved, seemed intoxicated, police said, and failed a field sobriety test.

Police were dispatched to the scene on Exeter Road at around 11:14 p.m. There, they said they found multiple pieces of Murgo’s Acura TSX in the roadway.

A trail of fluid continued north on South Country Trail and police followed it and soon found Murgo and his heavily damaged car.

Murgo reportedly told police that he had been drinking all day.

At the station, Murgo registered a .160 and .159 blood alcohol level in two separate breath tests.

Along with the DUI charge, police charged Murgo with a roadway violation and not reporting an accident.

DOMESTIC
North Kingstown Police charged Jesse James Almstrom Sr., 25, of 4 State St., North Kingstown, with domestic simple assault, domestic failure to relinquish a telephone and domestic disorderly conduct March 10 at around 12:44 a.m.

Police said Almstrom injured another person during an argument, causing bruises and red marks on the victim.

A no-contact order was issued.

THEFT
A Newcomb Road woman told police on March 7 that someone entered her vehicle and stole  a variety of items.

Police said the incident occurred between March 5 and 6 and the culprit stole a wallet, $500 cash, assorted credit cards and documents.

The items were contained in the car’s truck and a zipper bag in the center console.

The victim told police she left the car unlocked on March 5 but was sure that she locked it on March 6.

Police advised the victim to monitor her financial accounts in case of fraud and the matter was documented.

SHOPLIFTING
Police charged Tammey Marie Arnett, 47, of 10 Kingston Ave., South Kingstown, with shoplifting March 8 after she allegedly stole two toys from the Ten Rod Road Walmart.

Police said Arnett was watched by store security as she concealed a WWE mask and a ball juggling kit in a shopping bag while she was in the grocery department.

She then reportedly brought a half and half bottle to the checkout lines and paid for it while continuing to conceal the toys in her shopping bag.

Police said Arnett was also wanted on a Fourth Division District Court warrant for failing to appear.

On March 8, police charged Elise M. French, 27, of 55 Pointe Lane, North Kingstown, with shoplifting after she allegedly stole $79.75 worth of cosmetics from the Ten Rod Road Walmart.

Police said a store security officer watched French conceal several items in her purse before attempting to leave the store without paying for them.

French did pay for some food and other items in her carriage, police said, but she never took the cosmetics out of her purse before walking past all points of purchase.


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