Police Log

Posted 8/13/15

Man charged after break-in at NEARI building

A Warwick man is facing several charges, including assault, following an early-morning break-in at the National Education Association of Rhode Island …

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Police Log

Posted

Man charged after break-in at NEARI building

A Warwick man is facing several charges, including assault, following an early-morning break-in at the National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI) building on Bald Hill Road last week.

Paul Strumar, 51, of 56 Reed St., is charged with breaking and entering into a building with criminal intent, resisting arrest, simple assault, and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned in Third District Court and held as a probation violator.

Police responded to the NEARI building shortly before 3 a.m. on Aug. 7 following a report of an in-progress break-in. Witnesses from the nearby W.B. Mason store reportedly heard glass breaking at the unoccupied building.

Officers arriving at the scene found several pieces of copper piping stacked next to a broken window on the north side of the building, and located a suspicious vehicle parked nearby that was registered to Strumar. Sounds coming from the building also indicated the suspect was still inside, and police used a PA system to order anyone in the building to exit.

After receiving no response, officers entered the building and soon found Strumar hiding in the basement under office desks covered by a plastic tarp. Strumar reportedly ignored verbal commands to exit and then fought with officers – striking one in the face – before being taken into custody.

The NEARI building has been vacant since a March 2014 fire at a hair salon with which it shared space.

2 juveniles arrested in Craigslist robbery

A pair of 14-year-old boys have been charged after allegedly beating and robbing a victim they lured to a church parking lot by responding to a Craigslist posting.

Police responded to the area of Fenner Street at approximately 5 p.m. on Aug. 2 for the reported robbery. The victim told police he had advertised three iPhones for sale on Craigslist, and a male subject responded. A meeting was arranged in the parking lot of St. Matthew’s Church on Elmwood Avenue.

The victim told police the two suspects met him when he arrived. One of those suspects then reportedly said he had lost his cash, which he kept in his sock. The suspects asked for the victim’s assistance in looking for the money, and as the three turned a corner, the two suspects began attacking the victim, with one placing him in a chokehold and the other punching him.

“During the assault one of the suspects identified himself as a member of law enforcement and ordered the victim to surrender his phones,” reads a release from Cranston police. “As the suspects fled with the stolen phones, the victim gave chase and was able to snap a few photos of the suspects.”

The case was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Division, and detectives were able to identify the suspects after canvassing the neighborhood with the photographs. The stolen iPhones were recovered following further investigation, leading to both suspects being charged with first-degree robbery. Both boys were released to their parents’ custody pending Family Court appearances. 

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