Police Log 04-11-2024

Six men have been charged in Third Division District Court in Warwick with crimes related to “targeting children for sex, stemming from a joint investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Warwick Police Department, the Rhode Island State Police (RISP), and the Office of the Attorney General,” according to a press release from the office of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

“On April 4 and April 5, members of the Warwick Police Department and (RISP) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) arrested six defendants following an undercover operation aimed at identifying those utilizing websites and online platforms to meet and engage with minors for sexual activity,” according to the AG’s press release. “Investigators placed decoy advertisements on websites known to be associated with prostitution and commercial sex. It is alleged that the defendants responded to a location in Warwick intending to engage in sexual activity with a minor.”

“The results of this highly effective joint operation send a swift and clear message: those who wish to exploit and endanger children will be met by a powerful coalition of law enforcement partners to prevent that from happening,” Neronha said. “I want to thank the investigative team from my Office, the Warwick Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Rhode Island State Police, and all the law enforcement organizations that played key roles in this operation’s success.”

“The operation that took place April 4th and 5th is a great example of agency cooperation and skilled investigators working together to root out child sexual predators,” said Warwick Police Chief Colonel Bradford E. Connor. “Those arrested are a stark reminder that there are people out there who will continue to victimize our most vulnerable children and it emphasizes the need to continue working collaboratively to address this ongoing issue.”

“Today’s charges allege that these individuals sought out and planned to pay to sexually abuse children,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for HSI in New England. “To root out predators and to protect our most precious children, HSI continually shares our expertise investigating child sex trafficking with our partners, both domestic and foreign.”

“Crimes against children are some of the most serious and devastating incidents we encounter,” said Colonel Darnell S. Weaver. “I want to thank the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children, the Office of the Attorney General, HSI New England, and the whole team who successfully executed this operation to help effectively prevent and deter these terrible crimes.”

As a result of the operation, the following individuals were charged:

• Luis J. Chacon, 30, of West Warwick, is charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and one count of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Randy M. Joslin III, 27, of Charlestown, is charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and one count of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Abudulganiyu O. Adeboye, 29, of East Providence, is charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and one count of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Robert A. Petit, 58, of Voluntown, Conn., is charged with one count of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity and one count of indecent solicitation of a child.
• Davon J. Bess, 33, of Central Falls is charged with one count of indecent solicitation of a child and one count of resisting arrest.
• Paul Taylor, 68, of Holland, Mass., is charged with one count of indecent solicitation of a child.

The Warwick Police Department worked with the HSI New England Field Office for Rhode Island, the RISP, and the Office of the AG to help lead the investigation. The investigation was also assisted by Portsmouth, Providence and East Providence Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) New England, and the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

SHOPLIFTING

Around 9:20 p.m., March 15, Warwick Police Officer Ryan A. Valentim responded to Target at 1245 Bald Hill Road for a shoplifting report.

The store’s loss prevention employee told police he saw two women in the cosmetics section holding multiple items in their hands, until around 8:48 p.m. when they “grabbed a carriage and placed all of the items inside,” according to the arrest report.

The pair entered the bedding section of the store and selected two different bedding sets and four pillows. One of the women allegedly placed all the items in a large bin inside the carriage and placed the pillows on top of the bin.

Around 9:09 p.m., the pair entered the self-check line and one of the women, identified by police as Chiara A. Diaz, allegedly scanned the pillows, but not the items “concealed” underneath. Store security detained Diaz, 24, of 181 Ayoho Road, Coventry.

“The items that were recovered from the large bin inside the carriage totaled $790.27,” Valentim wrote.

The woman with Valentim told police “that she did not know that Diaz was concealing the items.” Target filed a No Trespass Order against the other woman, identified by police as a 44-year-old Coventry woman.

The store informed police they wanted to file a criminal complaint. Diaz was charged with Shoplifting (first offense).

DUI

Around 2:15 a.m., March 17, Warwick Police Officer Nathan J. Skawinski was patrolling the Oakland Beach Sea Wall and surrounding areas when he spotted a vehicle in the rear parking lot of Iggy’s Boardwalk, at 859 Oakland Beach Ave., with its lights on.

After passing by a second time, the vehicle’s lights went off “while it remained running as if to avoid being seen,” Skawinski wrote in the report.

The car, a grey Nissan Maxima, exited the parking lot and traveled south on Oakland Beach Avenue with its daytime running lamps activated, but with no tail lamps illuminated. It stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Stender Boulevard and Suburban Parkway, but the car’s rear tires were stopped on the stop line.

Skawinski initiated a traffic stop and spoke to the car’s two female occupants.

Police identified the driver as Karen J. Armstrong, 59, of 2017 Cranston St., Cranston. Skawinski found a cooler containing beer bottles and a sealed box of Samuel Adams beer in the back seat.

“I informed the operator of the reason for the stop and asked both parties if they had anything to drink that night,” Skawinski wrote in the arrest report. “Armstrong immediately pointed towards the cooler and stated, ‘I know that looks bad.’”

The driver then allegedly told police she had just a single beer while working her shift, but denied drinking any of the alcohol in the vehicle (she later allegedly told police she may have had 2-3 beers).

Skawinski noted Armstrong’s speech was allegedly “slightly thick-tongued” and her eyes “heavily bloodshot and watery.”

Police asked Armstrong to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. She agreed.

Following the tests, Armstrong was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. She was transported to Warwick Police Headquarters where police asked Armstrong if she would consent to a chemical breath test. She asked to speak to a lawyer, and following legal advice, she refused the breath test.

Armstrong was charged with DUI of Liquor (BAC unknown, first offense). She also received citations for Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (first offense) and Times When Lights Required.

SHOPLIFTING

Around 1:10 p.m., Feb. 23, Warwick Police responded to Lakewood Liquors at 774 Warwick Ave., for a shoplifting report from earlier that day.

A store clerk told police that around 12:03 p.m. two women entered the store and both walked in separate directions. The store staff said one woman approached the front of the store and asked for mini bottles from the freezer. When they got the bottles, he asked the woman for ID.

She told him she didn’t have an ID so he refused service.

He told police that “he had reason to believe the females were shoplifting due to prior incidents involving one of the female parties,” according to the incident report. He followed them out of the store and took a photo of their vehicle’s registration plate.

Police tracked the plate to a man who was not on the scene.

Store staff reviewed the video surveillance footage and saw the woman who had walked toward the back of the store remove a 1.75L bottle of Patron Silver form the shelf and allegedly put it inside her purse. Both women left without making a purchase.

The store owner informed police they wanted to press charges. The report was forwarded to Warwick Police Detectives for additional follow-up. Eventually police identified the woman and issued an arrest warrant.

On March 17, Warwick Police responded to the East Providence Police Department for a warrant service. They picked up Ashley M. Benevides, 35, of 47 Wall St., Apt. C, Bristol, the suspect wanted for the Lakewood Liquors shoplifting incident.

She was taken into custody without incident, transported to Warwick Police Headquarters, issued a court summons and eventually released.