Middletown Arrests: Man Allegedly Offers Police $100 to Let Him Go

Man Allegedly Evades Cab Fare, Then Offers $100 to Police

Joseph Tomanovich, of 766 Indian Ave., was arrested on Saturday, April 21, around 12:42 a.m. on charges of pay evasion of fare, disorderly conduct and bribery of an agent.

Police were dispatched to the residence when a cab driver called police after 21-year-old Tomanovich allegedly got into a verbal argument with the driver, attempted to run away after he refused to pay the fare and then passed out on a lawn.  

Tomanovich was reportedly in front of Fastnet Pub in Newport when another individual flagged down a cab and asked the driver to take him home. Tomanovich reportedly told the driver he lived at 366 Indian Ave., but when they got to the area, the driver said the address did not exist.

After a few trips up and down the street, the driver reported that he stopped and asked Tomanovich where he was going. He drove up and down the street several more times, before Tomanvich told the driver he lived at 766 Indian Ave.  

According to the police reports, Tomanovich yelled for the driver to just to stop at 677 Indian Ave. When the driver asked for the fare, Tomanovich allegedly yelled and swore at the driver and got out of the car.

He reportedly argued that he was not going to pay because he did not even take the cab home, and that he had walked to the address. He then reportedly ran south on Indian Avenue.

The driver found Tomanovich passed out on the lawn two houses south and called police.

Police said when they arrived, Tomanovich was intoxicated could not tell the officer where he was, where he was going or where he lived. Police said he then began to swear in resposne to the officer's questions. The driver told police he would like to press charges for evading a fare.

On the way to the station, Tomanovich  reportedly told officers, “You cannot arrest me because you’re not a real cop.”   

During processing, police counted $160 in Tomanovich’s wallet. He allegedly told officers, “If you let me go I will give you $100.”  When asked to repeat what he had just said, Tomanovich allegedly said if they would “just let this one thing slide,” he would give them $100.     

Police added the bribery of an agent charge to his arrest, which is a felony.  

Drug Possession

Police arrested Andrew Lopes of 471B Hosmer St, Marlborough, MA, on Saturday, April 21, at approximately 2:20 a.m. on a felony possession of drugs charge. Police reported they approached Lopes' vehicle near the entrance of the Wildlife Refuge. A search of the car reportedly turned up marijuana, amphetamines and a scale.

Domestic Vandalism

Michael Ford, of 30 Rogers Ln. was arrested on Monday, April 23, at approximately 10:41 p.m. on a misdemeanor domestic vandalism charge.  

On Friday night, 24-year-old Ford allegedly broke a phone and several items in his mother’s house after his mother told him she did not want him talking to a girl she did not approve of with her telephone. When Ford left her residence, the 44 year-old woman was unable to call police because her phone had reportedly been thrown against the wall.

She ran outside and flagged a vehicle to call for help.  Police were unable to find Ford at that time.

On Monday night, they pulled over a vehicle he was driving because it was missing its rear license plate. After a routine check, they arrested Ford under the active warrant.