Narragansett Police Log: March 16, 17 and 18, 2011

Unless otherwise noted, information about the following incidents was supplied by the Narragansett Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Police Cite URI Student for Underage Drinking, Issue Sticker at Big St. Patrick’s Day House Party

Michael T. Chang, 19, of Dorr Hall at the University of Rhode Island, was cited at 11:50 p.m. on March 17 on a charge of possession of alcohol by a minor.

According to police, they were called 1191 Ocean Road by a taxi driver, who said he witnessed a fight among several men while attempting to pick up a fare from a house party. The driver said he saw several of the people involved run into the home.

Police said about 15 people were gathered in the driveway, drinking and smoking, and the yard was littered with empty plastic caps and beer bottles. Police said several people dropped their cups and ran as they approached the house.

According to police, they knocked on the side door of the house. Officers noted they could look through the house’s windows and see that the kitchen was crowded with people shoulder-to-shoulder. Police said after they knocked on the door, someone in the house screamed, “Cops,” and attempted to exit from the kitchen into the basement.

Police said after repeated knocking, one tenant came out after about five minutes. Police asked him about the fight, and the tenant told them he knew nothing about it. According to police, despite being outside with the doors to the house shut, the noise was still so loud that he had problems hearing the tenant.

Police told the tenant to get the other renters out, and to start clearing the party. According to police, it took about 30 minutes to clear out the guests. While clearing the house, police noted Chang with a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. A background check revealed that he was underage, and he was cited for possession.

Police estimated the party size at 140 to 150 people. They noted that the partygoers used two nearby lots for parking, and that the yard and road were littered with beer cans and empty cups.

The tenants were listed as Benjamin Murphy, 20, Axel J. Ringwood and Bryan W. Veyera, both 21, and Kyle P. Murray, 22. All are URI students, according to online records. The property is managed by Durkin Realty.

No arrest has been made for the fight witnessed by the taxi driver. According to police reports, a nuisance sticker would be issued to the home, and Durkin Realty was notified of the incident.

Connecticut Man Arrested for DWI

Angelo C. Pereira, 23, of 27 Williamson Road, Hamden, CT, was arrested at 12:26 a.m. on March 18 on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

According to police, an officer on patrol noted a car driven by Pereira traveling very slowly on Point Judith Road. Police said the car was clocked at 31 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone, and the front and rear wheels veered into the breakdown lane for several seconds at one point.

Police asked Pereira where he was going, at which point he reportedly said he was headed to Bonnet Shores. When police asked him where he was coming from, they said Pereira also said Bonnet Shores, before correcting himself and saying that he had left a nearby restaurant.

According to police, they smelled a strong odor of alcohol while talking to Pereira, and asked him to submit to a field sobriety test. Police said Pereira failed this and was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

During his booking at headquarters, police said Pereira became hysterical and refused to submit to a chemical test, claiming, “I’m trying to get into medical school, what am I supposed to do now?” Police said after 15 minutes of trying to talk to Pereira, he refused to answer whether he would take the chemical test. As a result, he was also cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test.

K-9 Unit Sniffs Out Large Bag of Pot

Jesse J. Lehrman, 26, of 290 Church St., Apt. #1, South Kingstown, was arrested at 4:45 p.m. on March 16 on a charge of possession of marijuana.

According to police, an officer noted a white Dodge Dakota pick-up truck driven by Lehrman traveling above the speed limit on Woodruff Avenue, despite rainy conditions. Police said during the traffic stop, burnt marijuana could be smelled.

Police said K-9 officer Roki arrived on scene to conduct a search and immediately identified marijuana in a large plastic bag behind the driver’s seat. Lehrman was placed under arrest. The marijuana weighed in at 5.6 ounces, according to police.

URI Student Cited for Suspended License

Grace H. Bramhall, 21, of 13 Central Ave., was cited at 1:30 a.m. on March 16 on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

According to police, an officer on patrol on Point Judith Road noticed a car with a defective driver side headlight being driven by Bramhall. During the ensuing traffic stop, a background check revealed that Bramhall’s license was suspended.

Police issued Bramhall a citation for the violation. A 21-year-old passenger was allowed to drive the car from the scene. Police confiscated Bramhall’s license.

Other Loud Parties

At about 11:33 p.m. on March 17, police received a report of a loud party at 30 White Swan Drive. Police said about 40 to 50 people were gathered. According to police, it took several minutes for anyone to respond to knocking, and when asked to clear the residence, the tenants said that “15 people are sleeping over.” Police noted that a nuisance sticker was already on the house from a party in Sept. 2010. The tenants were identified as William A. Lapenas, 19, and Thomas M. Santolupo and Steven M. Silverman, 20. All three are URI students. According to online town property records, the home is owned by Light Green, LLC.

The information for this article was compiled from Narragansett police reports, which are available for review by any member of the public at their . If we’re missing a call or report you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com.

Want to be notified when new police reports are posted? Click the “follow-up” button below!