Middletown Police Log: Arrests for Shoplifting, Drugs, and No-Contact Violation

Julia Allen, 34, of 103 Lawrence St., Middletown, was arrested Tuesday at approximately 5 p.m. on a charge of shoplifting. According to police reports, the manager of Shaw’s grocery store, on East Main Rd., told police on Nov. 26 that 34 items worth a total value of $754.35 had been scanned at the self-checkout by a female the day before; the woman had bagged the items, and left the store with them, but had not paid. A Middletown detective viewed the store’s surveillance video and made a still photo of the shoplifter, which he distributed to area police departments. A Middletown patrol officer recognized the photo as Julia Allen, the same person he had recently stopped on a traffic violation, according to the report. Police allegedly went to Allen’s home and showed her the surveillance video, at which time she admitted she had taken the groceries. In addition to the shoplifting charge, Allen was issued a no trespassing order to not return to Shaw’s.

Loud muffler leads to marijuana charge

Christian Pidru, 19, of 7 Aborn St., Newport, was arrested at approximately 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, on a charge of possessing marijuana. According to the police report, an officer observed him driving on West Main Rd with a loud muffler and dark-tinted windows, and stopped him for those violations. While the officer spoke to Pidru, he allegedly noticed the smell of burnt marijuana and saw a white substance on the car floor. Pidru argued with the officer, according to the report, and refused to get out of the car as instructed; he was handcuffed and when the officer conducted a search of the vehicle, he found several loose clumps of marijuana. Pidru was processed without incident.

No-contact violation discovered during 911 response

Dena Maxwell, 40, of 861 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, was arrested at approximately 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of violating a no-contact order. According to the police report, police were dispatched to the area of 875 Aquidneck Ave. after a female called 911. Police spoke to Maxwell and another party on the scene, and Maxwell allegedly said she and the other party had been arguing, and the other party, a male, called 911 by mistake. Police discovered that the other party had previously filed a no-contact order against Maxwell, which was still active. Maxwell was processed without incident.