Alert Cop Catches Man Wanted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

Newport Police on Tuesday arrested a 51-year-old Providence man in no small part because of an alert Newport police officer on patrol at around 1:55 p.m. on Broadway.

According to a police report, the officer was transporting a prisoner on Broadway towards the police station when he immediately recognized Paul John Fennessey, of 627 Cranston St., Providence.

The officer ran a check and confirmed Fennessey had a District Court warrant out of Newport for failing to appear and Superior Court bench warrant for failing to appear for a violation hearing stemming from a Cranston police charge of failing to register as a sex offender.

The officer radioed dispatch, another officer arrived on scene to help and Fennessy was taken into custody without incident.

The Newport warrant was issued after Fennessey failed to appear in court after he was initially arrested on the charge of failing to register, a felony, on Oct. 18.

DISORDERLY

A 28-year-old Newport man is facing disorderly conduct and public drinking charges after he allegedly became unruly and combative towards officers investigating a possible argument early Wednesday morning.

Police said an officer on patrol at around 12:30 a.m. heard what sounded like two people arguing in the area of Thames Street and Wellington Avenue.

The officer came upon a black SUV parked on Thames Street and saw a woman sitting inside and a man standing outside.

The man, identified by police as Kevin Hewitt, of 2 Lucas Ave., Newport, was holding an open bottle of Bud Light.

Both the man and woman said they were arguing but everything was fine. When an officer asked Hewitt for his personal information, he reportedly became uncooperative and eventually started mocking another officer.

Hewitt allegedly swore at police and made aggressive motions, causing one officer to feel that he was going to be hit.

Hewitt ultimately was arrested and later released with a Second Division District Court summons for disorderly conduct. He is due to appear in court on Nov. 12.