State Police Arrest 79 Over Long Weekend

SCITUATE, RI — Troopers made 79 arrests and issued 344 citations over the four-day holiday weekend, according to state police. They also investigated 73 crashes, including a fatal hit-and-run involving a pedestrian in Exeter, during the same time period.

Sarah Balmforth, 27, of Exeter, died after being struck by a vehicle on South Road between 9 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. Anyone who may have witnessed and/or has information about the crash is asked to call Lt. Robert Creamer in the Major Crimes Unit at 444-1046. No major injuries were reported as a result of the other crashes.

The arrests included nine people charged with driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol:

• John Lopes, 41, of 48 Prospect St., Cranston, was arrested about 12:50 a.m. Saturday while driving on Interstate 95 in providence. He was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

• Samuel Stanford, 27, of 90 Landis Drive, Warwick, was arrested about 1 a.m. Saturday, while driving on Interstate 95 in Warwick. He was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

• Walter Tol, 36, of 1304 Charles Ave., Charlestown, was arrested about 1:45 a.m. Saturday after his car struck a guardrail then hit another car on Interstate 95 near Exit 10 (Route 117) in Warwick. He was charged with driving under the influence, second offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test, second offense. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

• Michael Terra, 25, of 12 Garfield Drive, Coventry, was arrested about 2:50 a.m. Saturday on Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich. He was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

• Jason Phelps, 47, of 17 Longfellow Drive, Coventry, was arrested about 11:45 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 95 in Warwick. He was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol count between .10 and .15 (Phase I, .134; Phase II, .129).

• Bunreth Chhum, 22, of 125 Wesleyan Ave., Providence, was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Sunday after his car struck a guardrail on the off-ram from Route 6 onto Hartford Avenue in Providence. He was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol count between .10 and .15 (Phase I, .110; Phase II, .112).

• Melissa Spinney, 26, of 26 Earl St., West Warwick, was arrested about 4:20 p.m. Sunday on Route 4, near Exit 8, in East Greenwich. She was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

• Evan Kopin, 23, of Madison, CT, was arrested about 10:50 p.m. Monday on Interstate 95 in Exeter. He was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

• Andrew Rocchio, 19, of 236 Castle Rocks Road, Warwick, was arrested about 1:10 a.m. Wednesday on Route 102 in Exeter. He was charged with driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

In addition, 11 people were charged with operating with a suspended/revoked license and 1 person was charged with reckless driving. The other arrests were for a variety of charges, including 33 people wanted on outstanding warrants.

Troopers also issued 344 citations and 111 warnings. The citations included 159 speeding violations; 77 seat belt and 3 child restraint violations; 8 texting while driving violations.

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