Portsmouth Police Find Missing Middletown Traffic Cone after Traffic Stop

Police departments on Aquidneck Island have a habit of looking out for each other. And inevitably, their work capturing criminals ends up with crossed paths.

In this case, the case of a missing crosswalk cone has crossed town lines. And Middletown police can thank Portsmouth officers for finding and returning an orange traffic cone labeled “Yield for Pedestrians” that was stolen from a crosswalk near Second Beach in their town.

Police said they stopped a truck driven by Eric Battcher, 24, on Aug. 15 after he was seen by an officer on routine patrol as he turned onto Turnpike Avenue from East Main Road without using a turn signal.

Once stopped, the Portsmouth officer noticed the traffic cone in the bed of the Dodge Dakota Battcher was driving.

At first, Battcher said he took the sine from Fort Braga six months ago, but eventually admitted that he was near Second Beach in Middletown when he took the cone from a crosswalk.

Battcher was taken into custody without incident and charged with receiving stolen goods along with driving with a suspended license after police ran a check of his ID and showed it was revoked in Massachusetts.

Police said Middletown was notified and they confirmed there was a missing cone from the crosswalk by Second Beach.

Middletown told Portsmouth they planned to file a charge of their own in connection with the theft.

Battcher was also cited for failing to use a turn signal.

He pleaded no contest in Second Division District Court and the case was filed for one year, which means the charge can be expunged from his record if he is not arrested between now and then.