Driver Fled One Crash Before Getting in Another, JPD Reports

A 26-year-old Providence woman faces multiple charges following an accident and foot chase on Plainfield Pike on June 7, Johnston Police reported.

Courtney Jean Roderick, of 57 Brownell St., is scheduled for formal arraignment in Third District Court, Warwick, on June 19 on charges of resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; reckless driving; failing to stop after an accident; and obstruction of justice, all misdemeanors.

According to police reports, witnesses said that Roderick's dark blue 1998 Plymouth Neon struck a traffic signal pole on Plainfield Pike at about 2:25 pm, and that Roderick then tried to leave the scene with both airbags in the car deployed.

Ptlm. Stephen Altomari reported that he was behind Roderick's car when it crossed the double yellow lines and struck the left side of an 18-wheeler truck that was turning left onto Atwood Avenue.

No injuries were reported from the collision.

Roderick then fled the scene, leading Altomari on a foot chase that ended inside St. Rocco School.

Altomari reported that Roderick ran into the boy's lavatory, locked herself in a stall, and flushed the toilet. She then surrendered to Altomari and Ptlm. Ryan Lemieux.

Suspecting that Roderick may have tried to dispose of drugs in the toilet, and since she had prior drug arrests, Altomari wrote that Sgt. Megan Boulet conducted a strip-search of Roderick at police headquarters that found no drugs.

A search of her car by Sgt. Michael Babbitt found hypodermic needle caps, but no drugs.

Officers presented Roderick for preliminary arraignment before Justice of the Peace Daniel Connors, who released her on $1,000 personal recognizance until her next court hearing.

Update, 5:30 pm:

According to online court records, Roderick was serving a five-year probation term imposed on August 21, 2008, on the date of her recent arrest.

Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg set the terms in response to Roderick's no-contest plea to one felony count of breaking and entering brought by Tiverton Police.

Thunberg also ordered no contact with the victim, restitution, and court costs. Roderick paid off the restitution in July, 2011.

Roderick had previously served one year's probation for a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge on Aug. 21, 2006. The one earlier drug possession charge was dismissed.