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Crime & Safety

Neighbors ID B&E Suspects

Residents near St. Rocco Church called Johnston Police to report suspicious activity.

made one arrest and are looking for a second suspect in a breaking and entering case after neighbors reported seeing three men trying to get into vacant houses near St. Rocco Church on June 3.

Police reported that a resident noticed an unfamiliar vehicle in the area of Miller Circle on the afternoon of June 3. As she watched the vehicle, she saw one man exit the truck and walk down Simmons Avenue towards Atwood Avenue. The man quickly returned to the truck, and two other exited the truck and followed the first man towards Atwood Avenue.

The resident called police and said she thought the mens' behavior was suspicious. When officers arrived, she provided a description of the three men.

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Johnston Patrolman Michael Protano arrived at Miller Circle around 4:30 p.m. and found the pick-up truck empty. He checked the truck's registration and learned that it was expired and last registered to Geoffrey Purmont.

Patrolman Matthew Leveillee then arrived and checked the surrounding area and streets for the suspects, according to Protano’s report.

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Protano stated that he remained in the area and spoke with another neighbor who said she saw a man carrying a black bag and walking towards Atwood Avenue. Two more neighbors also told Protano that they saw a man running behind their homes.  A fourth neighbor called police headquarters to report the same information.

Several more officers went to the area to join the search, according to police reports.

Protano reported that he saw a man standing outside St. Rocco Church who fit one of the descriptions provided by the neighbors.

When the man saw Protano, he allegedly turned and began walking in the opposite direction. Protano got out of his cruiser and ordered the suspect to stop. The suspect later identified himself as “Justin” and could not provide a credible story as to why he was in the area, according to Protano.

“Justin” was taken back to the scene on Miller Circle, where the first person who called in the suspicious activity identified him as a suspect, according to police reports. “Justin” was later identified through a criminal search as Michael Kollett, of 115 Burgess Ave., Providence.

In searching the area of Mill Street for other suspects, Patrolman Kevin Brady saw a man wearing dark blue jeans and no shirt walking west on Mill Street. When the suspect saw Brady’s cruiser he allegedly ran into the woods. Brady chased the man into nearby woods and saw the suspect sitting behind a bush trying to hide himself in the brush, according to the police report.

Brady ordered the suspect, later identified as Michael Scully, out of the woods and placed him in handcuffs. Bracy reported that Scully could not explain why his shoes were wet and covered with large pieces of grass, or why his hands were dirty and cut. When Scully did not provide the same story twice, he was transported back to the scene, where neighbors identified him as a second suspect. 

Scully reportedly admitted to Det. James Brady that he was with “Justin” and the registered owner of the pick-up truck, Purmont. Scully also led Det. Brady and Patrolman Brady to 3 Starr St., where Kollett and Purmont allegedly got in through a basement window, police reports state.

According to the officers, Scully admitted that he acted as the look-out for the other two men, who were inside the house cutting copper piping from the radiator system.When he saw police in the area, Scully reportedly said that he alerted Kollett and Purmont so they could get out of the house.

An arrest warrant was issued on June 4 for Purmont on a charge of breaking and entering and conspiracy.

Scully was later released from headquarters. 

Police charged Kollett with breaking and entering a dwelling or house without consent; conspiracy; obstructing police; and being a fugitive from justice, with five outstanding warrants. He was arraigned at Johnston Police Headquarters and transferred to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

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