Middletown Police Log: Weekend Arrests and Citations

The reported the following recent arrests:

Driving Under the Influence

• Middletown police arrested Ronald N. Ricci, 29, of 1 Mount Ash Road, Hyde park, Mass., around 7:38 p.m. Sunday on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also cited for refusing to take a chemical test to measure blood-alcohol concentration (BAC). According to the arrest report, police stopped his car after observing the car’s tires hit the curb while traveling south on Valley Road. After questioning, a field sobriety test was conducted at the scene.

Outstanding Arrest Warrants

• Michael Anthony Montella, 27, of 33 Derby Lane, Cranston, was arrested around 6:25 p.m. Sunday evening on a misdemeanor outstanding arrest warrant issued by Superior Court for his alleged failure to appear for an arraignment. According to the arrest report, Montella was a passenger in a car stopped for license plate and brake light motor vehicle infractions. He was held overnight to be transported to the Second District Court in the morning.
• Thomas James Maher, 33, of 11 Stacey Drive, Cranston, was arrested around 6:15 p.m. Sunday evening on two misdemeanor outstanding arrest warrants issued by the Third District and Sixth District courts for his alleged failure to appear for scheduled court dates. According to the arrest report, Maher was a passenger in a car stopped for license plate and brake light motor vehicle infractions. He was held overnight to be transported to the Second District Court in the morning.
• Police arrested Denis V. Kruponov, 24, of 26 Catherine St., Apt. 2, Newport, around 7:33 p.m. Friday night on a misdemeanor outstanding arrest warrant issued from the Second District Court for his alleged failure to appear for a court date. According to the arrest report, police stopped a car on West Main Road for a license plate infraction and Kruponov was a passenger in the car at the time.

Obstruction of Justice

• Latonya R. Lucas, 29, of no known address, was arrested around 5:36 p.m. Saturday evening on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer in the line of duty. According to the arrest report, police were called to the neighborhood of Squantum and Colony Drive to investigate reports of two women soliciting magazine subscriptions door-to-door. During questioning, one of the two women allegedly provided police with a false name because, she told police, she thought there was an outstanding warrant for her arrest. Background checks turned up no arrest warrants but police charged the woman with obstructing justice for providing false information. She was also cited in violation of the town ordinance to have a required solicitor's permit.
• Steven C. Hackett, 27, of 11 Granada Terrace, Middletown, was arrested around 11:21 p.m. Wednesday night on a felony charge of violating a domestic no contact order, allegedly a third offense, and on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice. According to the arrest report, police visited his residence to investigate a 17-year-old runaway report and an officer at the scene allegedly observed a female inside the home with whom Hackett was known to have a mutual no contact order. Police at the scene alleged that Hackett denied the woman was there, refused to have the woman come to the door at the police officer’s request, slammed the door in the officer’s face and turned off all the lights in his home. A witness later located who was also present in the home allegedly confirmed the woman was there. Police also reported they recovered women’s sandals matching those worn by the woman in a photo and a cell phone from the scene that showed a recent outgoing call to the woman.

Disorderly Conduct

• Ryan J. Gallo, 29, of 350 North St. Apt. 200, Boston, Mass., was arrested around 1:36 a.m. Saturday morning on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. According to the arrest report, a police officer observed Gallo allegedly jog at a passing car on Aquidneck Avenue, causing the vehicle to swerve around him, then bang on the car with a sandal. Police at the scene reported Gallo to be heavily intoxicated with slurred speech. He was held overnight pending his morning arraignment.

No Contact Violations

• Dayanne C. Costa, 22, of 231 Maple Ave., Unit 902, Newport, was arrested around 12:27 a.m. Saturday morning on a felony arrest warrant in connection with an investigation into an alleged no contact order violation. According to the arrest report, Costa was detained by Newport Police at 37 Howard Ave. in response to the arrest warrant and later picked up by Middletown police.

Marijuana Possession

• A 16-year-old male Middletown youth was arrested around 8:20 p.m. Friday night on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. According to the arrest report, police stopped a car on West Main Road for an alleged headlight violation when the officer at the scene detected the smell of marijuana in the car. When the driver and two passengers stepped out of the car, police allegedly found marijuana on the ground that the youth admitted was his. The suspect was also cited for the headlight violation and for a graduated under 18 driver’s license infraction.