Oops: Letters Tossed in Trash Lead Portsmouth Police to Newport Woman Using Portsmouth Transfer Station

PORTSMOUTH, RI–It was about the third time it happened, the Hedly Street transfer station employee told police. Someone was throwing discarded construction materials in a dumpster in the lower lot, the one closest to West Main Road.

But this time, the worker found a clue-- two pieces of mail with a name and address.

Police checked out the information and found a person by the same name had recently applied for a variance. Hence, it might follow she had a building project underway at her Newport home.

Rachel M. Thaw, 27, of Newport, told Portsmouth police she was on her way to the dump, but the transfer station closed early.

She "thought it would be okay to use the other trash cans," police allege.

However, Thaw is not a Portsmouth resident, and she did not have a transfer station sticker. Police gave her a summons for illegally littering or dumping trash.