Newport Police Log: NJ Woman Found Sleeping on Stranger's Couch

The following reports detail the arrests made by the Newport Police Department from Thursday, August 5, through the early morning hours of Friday, August 6. Descriptions of all events are based solely on police officer reports provided to Patch.

New Jersey Woman Arrested Again

Lauren Michelle Coll, 36, of Oceanport, NJ, was arrested around 11:10 p.m. Thursday on charges of breaking and entering and disorderly conduct.

According to the police report, officers were dispatched around 10:40 p.m. to 6 Gould Street Apt. 1 for a report that an unknown woman had broken into the residence and was now asleep on the living room couch. Officers spoke to the residents, who said they'd seen the woman sleeping in their backyard a few minutes earlier, but hadn't reported it because they presumed she was drunk and needed a safe place to sleep it off. The residents said they became alarmed when they found the woman in their home, but that they weren't interested in pressing charges, just wanted her removed.

Officers recognized Coll from an arrest early Thursday morning, when she allegedly broke into a boat at Bannisters Wharf Marina. According to the report, Coll seemed confused about where she was, then became upset and told officers that the residents had invited her inside. Officers say she kept insisting she wanted to go back inside to go to sleep.

Officers say Coll was uncooperative when they tried to get a phone number or address from her, and that she started to draw attention from neighboring residents. Upon booking her at the station, officers contacted her father in New Jersey and made arrangements for him to come pick her up in Newport. Based on the fact that Coll had been without her prescription medications, had no money, ID or transportation, police authorized her for a misdemeanor's release.

Washington DC Man Arrested Following Incident at Thames Street Bar

Jonathan A. Cook, 28, of Washington DC, was arrested around 1:35 a.m. Friday on a disorderly conduct charge.

Officers say they were traveling on America's Cup Avenue around 1:22 a.m. when they were flagged down by Rhino Bar staff members, who said they were having difficulty getting a man to leave their property. According to the report, officers spoke with Cook, who told them he had been punched in the face by an unknown man and was escorted out of the bar. Staffers said Cook was violent and belligerent toward them during the altercation.

Officers report that Cook was very intoxicated and refused to tell what happened. Because his lip was swelling and he had dried blood on his teeth, police offered him a rescue, but he repeatedly refused.

According to the report, Cook then stopped in the center median of America's Cup Avenue and started holding his cell phone out as if he were taking pictures or video. Officers say he stepped out into the roadway several times and that they told him he would be arrested if he didn't leave the area.

Within three minutes of leaving, officers say Cook returned to the area and stood on the corner again. When officers told him to leave, they say he then raised his cell phone in close proximity to one of their faces and said that he didn't do anything and didn't have to leave.

Cook was taken to the station for booking, where officers say he refused to answer questions about the incident.