Footprints in the Snow Led Police to Suspect

NEWPORT, RI— Police went to the Festival Field apartments on Girard Avenue on Wednesday for a complaint about a possible domestic assault. They knocked on the door; a woman answered and told police the suspect ran out the back door.

Officers checked the apartment and verified no one was hiding inside. When an officer looked out the back door, he saw a trail of footprints in the snow. The tracks led to the RK Newport Towne Center, the shopping mall on Connell Highway.

The victim told police her boyfriend, Kevin Chisman, 39, of East Providence, shoved her in her apartment hallway. She fell and bumped her head on the floor. The fall left her with a slight bump on the side of her head.

An officer anticipated Chisman would be in the shopping center and went to locate him. The victim said he was between 6 feet and 6'2" tall and was wearing jeans, a gray jacket, and white tee. Coming from the Stop & Shop, the officer said Chisman walked straight at him. He displayed his badge and asked for his name.

Chisman gave a false name and initially said he was not carrying any identification. However, he later produced his wallet and identification verifying he was Chisman.

Police said he told them he didn't do anything wrong.

The woman later said Chisman also hit her in the mouth on Monday, Jan. 30, but he did not report anything. Officers allege they found dried blood on the apartment walls in the kitchen and in the hallway and dried blood on the bedroom and kitchen floors.

Chisman was charged at 12:06 p.m. on Wednesday with two counts of Domestic simple assault and battery, third offenses. Both charges are felonies.