Middletown Arrests: Procurement of Prostitution, Assault of a Child

Middletown Man Arrested for Procuring a Prostitute

Edward Butler, 43, of 17 Phillips Ave, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at approximately 1:10 on charges of procurement of prostitution.  On Monday, police responded to Jean Terrace after a female called 911 and said a male was chasing her.  The call was disconnected before dispatch was able to get a location, said police.

When police arrived to the area, they found Butler’s red pickup parked at 9 Phillips Avenue with a blood stain on the driver’s side door and a warm engine. Inside the house, police spoke to Butler who allegedly said he hired an escort and it had gone bad.

According to the police report, his girlfriend was asleep upstairs while he was downstairs with the woman.  He said he paid $160 for an hour with the prostitute, and 20 minutes into the hour, she ran out of the house, said police. She jumped into a truck with a female driver and he chased them to Phillips Avenue in his truck, said police. According to the police reports, Butler chased the females because he did not get his full hour that he purchased.

He caught up to the women and leaned into their truck, said police. The driver allegedly rolled up the window and drove off, but Butler’s hand was caught in the window. He told police he was dragged until they got to Oxbow, and the window opened and Butler fell to the ground.  The Middletown Fire Department treated Butler for his minor cuts.

Police were able to trace the call back to a female who had been previously charged with prostitution in North Kingstown.  On Tuesday, the Middletown Police Department contacted the North Kingstown Police Department for a photograph of the suspect.

Police said they attempted to contact Butler several times, but they were unable to reach him. An affidavit and arrest warrant was issued for Butler's arrest. At the station, Butler was unable to identify the female suspect. He said he did not wish to pursue charges of assault against the driver of the vehicle.

Police said there was not enough evidence to charge the female suspect with prostitution.

Woman Charged With Assault of a Child

Marina Lee, 30, of 144 Park Holm was arrested on Tuesday evening at approximately 9:35 when a witness called police with a complaint that she struck her 11 year-old daughter several times in the head while at Shaws.   

The witness said she heard Lee say “Hurry up or I will punch you in the face,” said police.  The witness alleged Lee then struck her in the head several times.

Police located the party walking on West Main Road.  Police said Lee denied hitting her daughter.    According to the reports, the girl told police her mother hit her on her back, but it was OK because it did not hurt.

Police charged Lee with simple assault and DCYF was notified.