Empty Gas Tank Results in Warrant Arrest

A Johnston man found himself getting a ride in a police cruiser after a local officer who stopped to assist him found that he had an active warrant issued by East Greenwich Police for passing a bad check.

Sgt. Matthew Benson reported that he was on patrol on Apr. 22 at about 10:15 am when the man, identified as Thomas Karneeb, 45, of 175 Federal Way, Apt. 201, flagged him down on Hartford Avenue.

After Karneeb explained that his car had run out of gas, Benson reported that he checked the temporary registration plate on the car and found it to be expired.

Benson wrote in his report that Karneeb had the title to the car — as well as a ticket dated Apr. 20 issued by the State Police for driving with an unregistered vehicle.

In a further check on Karneeb, Benson reported that he found Karneeb had an active warrant from the East Greenwich Police Department for writing invalid checks, and that Karneeb's driver's license had expired.

Benson wrote that he issued two summonses to Karneeb for the driving violations, and turned Karneeb over to an East Greenwich Police officer who arrived at the Johnston Police Department at about 11:15 am.

Karneeb's car was towed from the scene; he is scheduled to appear in Third District Court, Warwick, on May 2 on the expired license charge.