Newport Police Log: Police Investigating Burglary at Bliss Grocer

Police Investigating Burglary at Bliss Grocer

Newport police are investigating a breaking and entering incident that occurred at Bliss Natural Grocer & Cafe on Broadway sometime between 8:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Police responded to the store around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday after one of the co-owners reported that the west side door appeared to be pried away from the frame. One of the business partners opened the store, but didn't realize the damage until finding the cash register empty. At first it was assumed that the employee the night before must have put the money in a deposit bag to go to the bank, but the bag was found empty in a file cabinet.

The employee from the night before reported leaving the cash register full and securing funds in the deposit bag. A receipt stamped at 11:57 p.m. Monday was left on the register.

Bliss co-owners said it seems the suspect knew exactly how to open the cash register by ringing in a purchase first, and that they also seemed to know exactly where the drop bag was kept since nothing else was missing or disturbed in the store. The co-owners said they suspect a former employee may be to blame.

It was unknown just how much was taken, but owners planned to do an audit of business receipts.

Driving Under the Influence Charge

Stacy L. Harris, 30, of 1 Harold Street Apt. 2 in Newport, was arrested around 12:50 a.m. Wednesday and charged with driving under the influence.

According to the report, at approximately 12:40 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle traveling east on Touro Street from Washington Square at a high rate of speed. Police pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Rhode Island Avenue. The driver, Harris, reportedly apologized to police and said she was rushing to make last call at a bar. The officer says he noticed the smell of alcohol on her breath and slightly bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. After her performance on field sobriety tests, the officer arrested Harris and brought her to the station for booking.

Warrant Charge

Wilton James Bannister III, 46, of 15 Broadway in Newport, was arrested around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday on two Second District Court bench warrants. An officer spotted Bannister and two others sitting in John Clarke Park. He approached them based on some alleged suspicious behavior, then confirmed that Bannister had warrants out for his arrest.

The above reports detail arrests made by the Newport Police Department from Tuesday, Sept. 7, through the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept. 8.  Descriptions of all events are based solely on police officer reports provided to Patch.