Police Log: Assault Outside Cumby's, Unwanted Dog, Truck Towed, not Stolen

UNWANTED DOG
East Greenwich police removed a small dog from a Kent Drive home on Dec. 1 after the mother of the dog’s owner insisted she wanted it out of the house.

Police said they first responded to the house on Nov. 1 when the woman called police to say the dog was aggressive and had bitten four people.

The dog had reportedly been obtained by the woman’s son from a Providence woman off craigslist.

The dog, about 11 months old, showed no signs of aggression while police were there, according to a police report, and the son indicated that he did not want to give the dog up.

About a month later, the East Greenwich animal control officer spoke with a local veterinarian who reported talking with the Kent Drive woman became concerned about the animal’s safety.

The vet said that the woman wanted the dog euthanized and “it would not take much to snap the dogs neck.”

Police went back to the house and removed the dog after the woman reported that the dog had chased one of her children around for 10 minutes.

The son and dog owner said that his mother exaggerates and wouldn’t harm the dog, but agreed that it couldn’t come back to the house.

STEREO STOLEN
A man reported his Jensen stereo was stolen from the dash of his pickup truck from the Flood Ford parking lot on South County Trail sometime between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1.

Police said the man dropped the truck off for repairs and when he went to pick it up on Dec. 1, he discovered a door lock had been damaged and the stereo was missing.

Flood Ford officials told police the truck was parked in the south lot and the dealership would take responsibility for the damage and stolen item.

PHONE SCAM
A South County Trail woman on Dec. 1 told police that she got a strange phone call from a man who claimed that her brother was being held at gun point and would not be released unless she sent money.

Police said the woman reported that the call originated from a Maryland telephone number and the caller identified himself as Robert Delay.

He said that her brother struck his brother’s car at a gas station in Rhode Island and claimed her brother was not being held.

The man said that her brother would not be freed unless he receieved money for the damages. When the woman tried to get more information, he reportedly said “no, you will just call the cops!” before hanging up.

The woman then called family members and confirmed nobody was in harms way.

Police are investigating.

ASSAULT OUTSIDE CUMBERLAND FARMS
Police charged Adam R. Hopkins, 26, of 561 Lafayette Road, North Kingstown, with simple assault and disorderly conduct Dec. 3 after he allegedly attacked a man who was sitting in his car reading the newspaper in the Cumberland Farms parking lot.

Police said the victim told police that he bought a few items in the store and began to read the newspaper in his car when he heard yelling noises. He looked to his left and saw Hopkins pumping gas and swearing, telling him “nice place to park you [expletive].”

Hopkins then walked towards the victim’s car, who got out out of concern for his safety.

Hopkins reportedly grabbed and shoved the victim against his car and soon fled when told the police would be called.

A store clerk confirmed the victim’s story.

Police were able to track down Hopkins using a license plate and help from the North Kingstown Police Department, who reportedly are familiar with him and the car he drives.

TAX SCAM
An East Greenwich resident told police on Dec. 3 that she got a call from a suspicious voicemail message from a man claiming to work for the Department of Legal Affairs at the U.S. Treasury and demanded $4,786.35 for unfiled taxes in 2009.

The woman called the number back and spoke to two people, both with Middle Eastern accents, who claimed they mailed a form detailing the money owed in September.

The woman soon hung up the phone and called police. The supposed tax delinquency was a fabrication, police said.

ITEMS STOLEN FROM CAR
Someone smashed the window to a vehicle parked in the Mozzarella’s parking lot on Dec. 3 and stole a laptop and iPad that were inside a briefcase on the back seat, police said.

The victim reported the crime at around 10:20 p.m. and said the vehicle was parked at around 5:35 p.m. and had been locked.

Along with the devices, the briefcase contained computer cables and legal and business documents.

VIOLATING NCO
Police charged Terry L. Bruskie, 28, of 561 Lafayette Road, North Kingstown, with violating a no-contact order Dec. 4 at 5:24 p.m.

Police said Bruskie was sending text messages to a woman he has been ordered not to contact.

TOWED, NOT STOLEN
A woman who recently moved to East Greenwich reported her Honda Ridgeline had been stolen on Dec. 6 but police soon discovered that it had in fact been towed.

Police said the woman reported the truck missing and said it had bene parked in the lot located on the north side of 148 Main Street.

She said the vehicle might have been left unlocked with a valet key in the center console.

The woman said she had just moved into an apartment on Main Street two days earlier.

Police broadcast an alert for area departments to keep an eye out for the truck, but continued police work showed it was not stolen, but instead, towed after a local restaurant called a local towing company.

Police tracked down the tow company and confirmed the truck was parked in their lot and promptly removed the stolen vehicle alert for the truck.