Police Log: July 29 to July 31

Stolen Medication:

arrested Susana Tolentino, 29, of 32 Sackett St., Providence, on a charge of larceny under $500 for allegedly taking prescribed medication from residents at Pocasset Bay Manor. The director of the manor called the Johnston Police Department on July 29 after a resident suspected Tolentino, a housekeeper at the manor, of stealing Vicodin from her room. Over the last month the resident noticed a number of her Vicodin pills was missing. On July 29 she counted 10 pills and placed them in the medication bottle in her room. She discovered three pills missing after Tolentino cleaned her room, according to Patrolman Derek Parascandolo’s report. The director told Parascandolo that Tolentino has been accused in two previous incidents.

Third DUI in less than a year:

Johnston Police arrested Julie Ferrazzano-Mazza, 35, of 12 Spears Path, Foster, on a charge of DUI, second offense, refusal to submit to a chemical test, and driving with a suspended/revoked license.

At 10 p.m. on July 29, the Johnston Police Department received a report of an erratic driver exiting I-295 South onto Hartford Avenue. The caller provided the description of a white Saab and the registration plate. Patrolman Derek Parascandolo and Sgt. Michael Babbitt responded to Hartford Avenue and noticed traffic slowing down and swerving around a car. The officers observed the car driven by Ferrazzano-Mazza crossing the dotted line separating the westbound lanes.

Ferrazzano-Mazza slowed down and then stopped in the middle of the road, according to Parascandolo’s report. Parascandolo pulled his police cruiser behind the white Saab and activated his overheard lights in an effort to pull the driver over to the side of the road.

Parascandolo approached Ferrazzano-Mazza’s car on the passenger side and Babbit approached from the driver’s side. Parascandolo asked Ferrazzano-Mazza why she stopped in the middle of Hartford Avenue.

When Ferrazzano-Mazza answered the questions, Parascandolo said he “was unable to understand her due to the fact that she mumbled an incoherent answer,” according to his report. When asked the question again she stated she was looking for her license as she “fumbled
throughout the vehicle, throwing various articles into the bac-seat stating, ‘I have it somewhere,’” read Parascandolo’s report. Allegedly in plain view were empty white Zinfandel bottles scattered throughout the car and a half filled bottle of white Zinfandel on the passenger’s seat, which was still cold to the touch, according to the police reports.

Ferrazzano-Mazza allegedly was unsteady on her feet when the officers asked her to step out of the car and she needed to use the driver’s door to keep her balance. Ferrazzano-Mazza failed the field sobriety test and refused to take the breathalyzer test at police heardquarters, according to Patrolman Stephen Altomari’s report. In his report, Altomari stated that Ferrazzano-Mazza’s license was suspended “after pleading nolo on a second DUI charge and receiving 20 days' home confinement and a year suspended sentence and probation.”

Ferrazzano-Mazza was released on $2,000 personal recognizance.

According to court records, Ferrazzano-Mazza was arraigned on Aug. 10, 2010 for driving under the influence. On Sept. 27 she pled nolo contendere (no contest) to DUI, first offense with BAC above .15. She was fined, ordered to pay court costs, lost her license for three months, and was ordered to attend DWI school and serve 20 hours of community service.

On June 22, 2011 she pled nolo contendere in response to a January 25, 2011 arraignment of DUI, first offense, with an unknown blood alcohol level. She was sentenced to 20 days' home confinement, a suspended sentence of 345 days, probation for 345 days, loss of license for 12 months, substance abuse counseling, a fine, and court costs.