Police: Newport Man Charged in Domestic B&E Incident

Newport Police charged Christian W. Winthrop, 42, with felony domestic breaking and entering and domestic simple assault after he allegedly broke into a Red Cross Avenue woman’s apartment by cutting a screen and crawling through a kitchen window before throwing her drink at her early Monday morning.

Newport Police Lt. Sean Connorton said officers were dispatched to the apartment at around 1:30 a.m. after a 911 phone call reporting someone trying to make entry into the apartment.

Police arrived and found Winthrop outside and he appeared intoxicated, according to a police report.

Police said Winthrop made entry as she sat inside watching a movie. Once inside, Winthrop allegedly walked over, picked up her drink and threw it at her.

Police said there was a 30-inch cut in the kitchen screen and it had been pushed in. Along with muddy footprints on the ground and window sill, police found a Camel Blue cigarette butt outside the window and a pack of Camel Blue cigarettes on Winthrop during a search.

Connorton said Winthrop actually had a recent no-contact order filed against the woman but she showed officers text messages he had sent to her over the past several days.

Police said Winthrop told them he sent her a Snapchat message before he arrived and claimed he went in through the door. He also denied throwing the drink.

Winthrop is the founder of The Newport Buzz, a popular local site covering Newport’s entertainment and night scene, and the son of Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop.

According to the police report, officers believed the footprints were freshly made and noted the cigarette butt was dry.

Winthrop was arrested and reportedly became combative with officers at the scene and struggled with officers at police headquarters.

He was later released on personal recognizance and is due to appear in court on Oct. 9 for an attorney general screening conference.