Police Log: March 18 to March 21

Handcuffed and waiting at Home Depot:

Lt. Richard Norato, Patrolman Adam Parkinson, and Patrolman Matthew Winsor responded to Home Depot at 100 Stone Hill Drive on Sunday, March 20, for a report of a shoplifter in custody. The loss prevention employees for Home Depot told Winsor that they were walking the sales floor when they saw a white man, later identified as John Wooley, enter the store. Wooley allegedly went to the tool department first and put two combo tool kits, with a combined retail value of $1,048, into his shopping cart. From there he went to the flooring department where he placed a Martha Stewart Welcome Mat in the shopping cart, according to the police report. Wooley then allegedly went to the insulation department and placed a roll of R-19 pink insulation into the shopping cart.

The loss prevention employees said Wooley allegedly walked by the self-checkout registers and did not attempt to pay for the items. He exited the store and the loss prevention employees followed him. A struggle ensued and Wooley was placed in handcuffs, according to Winsor’s report.  Wooley was escorted back into the store and the Johnston Police Department was called.  When Winsor spoke with Wooley he was read his rights and then admitted to stealing the merchandise, according to Winsor’s report.

John E. Wooley, 40, of 178 High St., Pawtucket, was arrested on a charge of felony shoplifting and habitual offender shoplifting. A trespass complaint was also initiated.

Drinking and “slamming:”

Johnston Police Patrolman Joseph McGinn responded to the area of 2154 Hartford Ave. for a report of a car accident around 5:30 p.m.  Sunday, March 20. When he arrived McGinn approached Steven J. Mello who was sitting in the driver’s seat of one of the vehicles. McGinn “detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from (Mello's) mouth as he spoke,” according to McGinn’s report.  In slurred speech Mello allegedly said to McGinn, “I apologize for hitting the girl’s car. I only had a few beers while slamming,” according to the police report.  McGinn asked Mello to exit the car. “As Mello exited his vehicle, he rested his left shoulder against the driver’s side of the vehicle to support himself as he walked the entire length of his vehicle,” read McGinn’s report.

Mello consented to submit to a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests by saying, “Sure, I only had a few beers.”  After the tests were complete, Mello was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. He was read his rights and McGinn asked Mello what slamming was. Mello told McGinn tht he was at band rehearsal all afternoon. 

Steven J. Mello, 49, of 777 Admiral St., Providence, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of liquor or drugs – first offense .15 or greater.

Back seat assailant:

Johnston Police Lt. Joseph Razza and Patrolman Mario Mennella Jr. responded to Sunflower Cirlce, North Providence, for a domestic assault that took place in Johnston  on Sunday, March 20.  The victim called the North Providence police department to report the assault. During the investigation the reporting officer learned that the assault took place in Johnston and the Johnston Police Department was called.

Mennella noticed that the victim had scratches to the back of his head, the left side of his face and ear. He also had two buttons missing from his shirt. The victim said he was eating at Ribs & Company at Atwood Avenue when Monica Sheehan entered the restaurant and caused a scene. Management removed Sheehan from the establishment by threatening to call the police. After completing his meal, the victim left the restaurant, got into his car, and drove north on Atwood Avenue. Sheehan was hiding in the back seat. Sheehan allegedly choked, punched, and scratched the victim as he drove back to his apartment in North Providence, according to Mennella’s report.

Mennella spoke with Sheehan and he could detect a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath and person,” according to his report. Sheehan admitted to being in the back of the victim’s car but she denied assaulting the victim.

Monica Sheehan, 34, of 88 Sunflower Circle, North Providence, was arrested on a charge of domestic – simple assault/battery and domestic – disorderly conduct.

Former Councilor pays court fine in suspended license case:

Former Town Councilor Melanie Turner was arrested on March 19 by Rhode Island State Police on an outstanding bench warrant stemming from a charge of driving on a suspended license. She appeared in Third District Court on March 21 and paid the outstanding fine.

The original charge was filed last spring, after Turner — defeated in the September Democratic primary for the District 1 council seat — was involved in a minor auto accident in Johnston.

According to Johnston Police, Turner was traveling on Atwood Avenue on May 4 when her car was struck in the rear by another vehicle. A check of her license showed that it had been suspended, and Turner was cited for the violation.

According to online records from Third District Court, bench warrants were issued on two separate occasions — in October, 2010 and January, 2011 — with the first withdrawn on Oct. 25 and the second withdrawn after Turner appeared in court on March 21.