Police Log: Aug. 7 to Aug. 9

Text message leads to domestic assault:

arrested Jeffrey Corse, 31, of 4 Oakhill Dr., on a charge of domestic simple assault/battery, domestic vandalism/malicious injury to property, and domestic disorderly conduct. Corse’s girlfriend arrived at Johnston Police Headquarters around 2:48 a.m. on Aug. 7 to report a domestic assault. The victim told Ptlm. Mario Mennella Jr. she was awoken to her boyfriend allegedly smashing her cell phone and then striking her with his hand and closed fist.

She stated that her boyfriend became upset after seeing a text message on her phone from another man. Corse allegedly kicked the victim and threw a glass candle at her, according to Mennella’s report.

Corse’s girlfriend ran to the bathroom and locked the door. Corse allegedly gained entry by smashing the door with the hammer. He also allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and threw her out of the apartment and into the rain.

Lt. Christopher Correia, Sgt. Dennis Peacock, and Patrolmen Derrick Palazzo and Mennella went to Corse’s apartment to investigate the incident. Corse allegedly told the officers he saw the text message, became angry, had a verbal argument with the victim, and then threw her out of the apartment. Mennella stated in his report that it appeared Corse was in the process of the cleaning the apartment before the officers arrived. Menella saw the damaged bathroom door and asked Corse what happened. He allegedly replied, “I kicked it open,” according to the police report. Corse was arraigned and bail was set at $1,000 personal recognizance. A no-contact order was issued.

Man vandalizes girlfriend’s car:

Police arrested Alec Cerullo, 40, of 343 Simmonsville Ave., on a charge of domestic vandalism/malicious injury to property and domestic disorderly conduct. On July 11, Cerullo allegedly jumped on his girlfriend’s car and smashed the front windshield by kicking it. Cerullo was allegedly drinking with friends prior to his girlfriend’s arrival.

When Cerullo’s girlfriend arrived at his apartment, she told police, an argument occurred between the two. Cerullo allegedly accused his girlfriend of cheating on him. The argument continued and Cerullo went outside and allegedly vandalized the victim’s car. Cerullo fled the area when he learned the police were on the way. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Police arrested Cerullo on Aug. 7, and bail was set at $50,000 with surety at his arraignment.

Cerullo was unable to post bail and was remanded to the ACI. A no-contact order was issued.

Stealing $30 in quarters:

Police arrested Michael N. Millar, 27, of 17 Harmony St., West Warwick, on a charge of larceny of a coin box. On August 10, Ptlm. Edward Gonzalez responded to the Citgo Food Mart on Greenville Avenue for a report of a larceny. An employee reported that an unknown person removed the coin box from the vacuum machine. The owner of the food mart provided Detectives Raymond Peters and Brian Loffredi with surveillance footage of the parking lot.

Loffredi watched the video and observed the white male with short brown hair and a thin beard line sitting in the passenger side seat of the car tampering with the machine. The man then moved to the driver’s seat and adjusted the position of the car for better access to
the machine, according to Loffredi’s report. The suspect then put on a red sweatshirt and removed the coin box with a pry bar.

Det. Thomas Dwyer informed Loffredi about several police departments investigating thefts from vending machines, according to the police report. Loffredi located reports from different police departments suspecting Millar for stealing from outdoor vending machines. Millar was arrested by the West Warwick Police Department
for  stealing from a car wash vending machine on June 11. Loffredi found the list of Millar’s tattoos from his arrest report and they matched the tattos on the suspect in the surveillance video.

Loffredi drove to Millar’s residence in West Warwick and saw the vehicle matching the one in the video. The red sweatshirt was on the driver’s seat. The car was towed and Millar later reported to the Johnston Police Headquarters. He admitted to the crime and stealing about $30 in quarters.