JPD Nab Pursuit Suspect After Foot Chase

Johnston Police arrested Robert Lahiff, 46, of North Providence, on one count of high-speed pursuit, second offense; driving with a suspended license; and two court warrants after he reportedly led officers on a high-speed pursuit on Feb. 15 on Plainfield Street.

Ptlm. Adam Parkinson reported that he was at a fixed post at about 11 a.m. on Feb. 15 when he saw a 2002 gray Pontiac Grand Am cross the double yellow line at the intersection of Plainfield Street and Fletcher Avenue.

In his report, Parkinson wrote that he checked the registration on the car and found that it had expired on Jan. 20, 2012.

When Parkinson tried to pull over the car, he reported, the driver — later identified as Lahiff — pulled over to the breakdown lane, but did not make a complete stop. As the car approached the intersection with Atwood Avenue, Parkinson wrote, "the operator began to accelerate aggressively and started to overtake vehicles" by driving in the wrong lane toward oncoming traffic.

The pursuit continued to the intersection of Planfield Pike and Comstock Parkway in Cranston, where Lahiff allegedly sped up to an estimated 80 mph and Parkinson stopped chasing the Pontiac.

Parkinson reported that he alerted Scituate Police about the pursuit and contacted North Providence Police for help in reaching the last registered owner of the car, Sana Bibi.

Bibi reportedly told Parkinson that her husband's friend, whom she identified as "Rob," was the likely driver. Parkinson then contacted Bibi's husband, Amir Rasheed, who confirmed that "Rob" had the car.

At 1:30 p.m., Rasheed reported to Johnston Police headquarters with the car. Parkinson wrote that he found one of the tires replaced with a spare tire, probably caused when Scituate Police placed "stop sticks" on the road to slow Lahiff's getaway.

Rasheed also told Parkinson that Lahiff refused to turn himself in because "he had a suspended license and 'didn't want to go away for 14 days,'" Parkinson wrote.

When Rasheed called Lahiff, with Parkinson listening to the conversation over the phone's speaker, Lahiff "repeatedly expressed to Amir 'don't tell them nothing about me,'" according to Parkinson's report.

Parkinson and Det. Brian Loffredi then went to Rasheed's business, the Stop & Go convenience store at 776 Douglas Ave., where Rasheed had confirmed Lahiff was an employee.

After Lahiff refused to identify himself, Parkinson reported that he went into the store to speak with a clerk, then heard Loffredi yelling "stop running," and returned outside, where he saw Loffredi chasing Lahiff on foot.

The two officers pursued Lahiff through several backyards before finding him hiding behind a picket fence.

Lahiff apparently cut his left hand on one of the chain-link fences he had jumped over; Parkinson reported that "he did not sustain any injury as a result of being taken into custody by me."

Providence Police and Fire personnel responded to treat Lahiff, who continued to refuse to give Parkinson his full name.

According to Parkinson's report, Lahiff told him: "The reason you didn't catch me today is 'cause you suck at driving."

Once at Johnston Police headquarters, Lahiff provided his name, and a check of his license found that it was suspended.

Parkinson reported that he found two outstanding warrants for Lahiff — one for failure to appear in court on a Cranston Police charge of accepting property by false pretenses; and another for failure to appear on a Family Court matter.

At his Feb. 16 arraignment, Third District Court Associate Judge Pamela Woodcock-Pfeiffer set bail at $7,500 surety and ordered Lahiff held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston when he failed to meet the bail terms.

Lahiff is scheduled to appear in court on April 19 for a pre-arraignment conference.