Johnston Police Seek Car-Ramming Suspect

Johnston Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a North Providence woman suspected of driving her vehicle into another car and damaging a mailbox at Metro Collision Center on Putnam Pike.

Jessica Collins, 31, of North Providence, is being sought by police after her ex-husband reported on Sept. 28 that Collins had tried to hit him with her Dodge Caravan before striking the car driven by his girlfriend's mother.

Ptlm. Philip Viens reported that he went to the D'Angelo restaurant on Putnam Pike in Smithfield at about 3:30 pm and spoke with Cyntha Tatro, who said she had gone to Metro to pick up Jermaine Collins when Jessica Collins drove into the parking lot and "positioned [her van] nose-to-nose" with Tatro's car.

Tatro told Viens that Jessica Colllins apparently first tried to hit Jermaine with her vehicle, striking a mailbox on the property, according to Viens's report.

Jessica Collins then drove her vehicle, a white Dodge Caravan, into Tatro's car at least twice more before fleeing, Tatro told Viens.

Det. Thomas Dwyer reported that he spoke with Tatro and her daughter, whom police did not identify.

Tatro said that when she tried to get out of the Metro parking lot, Jessica Collins blocked her path with her van. After getting out of the parking lot, Tatro said she travelled west on Rte. 44, stopping for a red light.

Collins then rammed her van into the back of Tatro's car, then backed up and drove into it again, Tatro told Dwyer.

Jermaine Collins told Det. Brian Loffredi that he had been dropped off in North Providence earlier that day, and had called Tatro for a ride.

When he went to the Valero gas station to meet Tatro, Collins said, Jessica Collins arrived in her van. Jermaine Collins told Loffredi that he instructed Tatro to leave the gas station, and began walking away from Jessica Collins.

As he was walking, Jermaine Collins said, "his ex-wife pulled up alongside of him in her vehicle and said 'Get in the car, where [are] you going? You got another girl you meeting up with?'" according to Loffredi's report.

Jermaine Collins also said that Jessica Collins's van struck him in the leg before he got into Tatro's car in the Metro parking lot.

Loffredi wrote that he called a cell phone number provided by Jermaine Collins and spoke with a woman who did not identify herself "and immediately terminated the call."

Dwyer and Loffredi went to Collins's North Providence home, but did not find her there, Loffredi reported.

Sgt. Joseph Salvadore reported on Sept. 30 that he took a call from Betty Collins, a cousin of Jessical Collins's through marriage, who told him that the white Caravan was in Providence, but "could not provide any information on Jessica's whereabouts."

According to Salvadore, Providence Police officers confirmed that Collins's van was at the location Betty Collins had mentioned, and had the van towed.

Jessica Collins faces one count of domestic assault and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, all felonies. Anyone with information is asked to call the Johnston Police Department ay (401) 231-4210.