DUI

Around 12:35 a.m., Sept. 7, Warwick Police on patrol spotted a gray Toyota Highlander traveling north on Post Road “at a high rate of speed.”

“The vehicle failed to come to a complete stop at the traffic light sliding past the solid white line almost striking a marked Warwick Police Cruiser,” Warwick Police Officer Nia L. Pina. “The vehicle then took a right on Fairfax (Drive) at a high rate of speed.”

Pina initiated a traffic stop.

“It should be noted that the vehicle did not come to a complete stop right away,” Pina wrote.

Police identified the driver as Terence R. Whalen, 45, of 20 Wagner Road, Westerly.

Police asked Whalen to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He “declined and stated that he wanted his lawyer,” according to the arrest report.

Police determined Whalen “was not safe to drive,” Pina wrote. He was arrested and transported to Warwick Police Headquarters.

Whalen was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) (blood alcohol content-BAC unknown, first offense) and cited for Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (first offense).

DUI

Around 12:45 a.m., Sept. 7, Warwick Police Officer Sydney R. Davis was at a fixed post near the intersection of Post Road and Alabama Avenue, when he spotted a tan/gold 2022 Chevrolet Colorado pass by allegedly at a high rate of speed.

Police estimated the driver was “traveling approximately 50 to 55 mph in a posted speed limit zone of 35 mph,” according to the arrest report.

While following the vehicle, police ran a registration check, and discovered it was expired. The registered owner also had an expired driver’s license.

Davis initiated a traffic stop.

Police identified the driver as Michael John Sutton, 41, of 112 Doolittle St., Coventry.

According to police, Sutton’s eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech “thick-tongued and mumbled.”

Police asked Sutton to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He agreed.

Following the tests, Sutton was arrested and charged with DUI of Liquor (BAC unknown) and cited for Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (first offense), Driving with Expired License (first offense), and Driving with Expired Registration.

SCAM ALERT

The Cranston Police Department is warning residents about a scam involving individuals impersonating police officers.

“We have received reports of residents being contacted by scammers falsely claiming to be officers from our department,” CPD posted on social media. The released the following scam details:

• The caller falsely claims the resident was a witness in a court case and missed a court date, resulting in a bench warrant.
• The scammer demands a large payment to clear the warrant via Bitcoin ATMs, Apple Pay, or other electronic methods.
• Scammers may also leave voicemails using our official number as the caller ID, requesting the resident to call back at a different number.

Police remind residents that they “will never request payment over the phone, ask for Bitcoin or any other electronic funds transfer methods.”

Cranston Police have asked residents, that if they “receive a call of this nature, do not comply, hang up immediately, and contact our department directly at 401-942-2211 to verify the information.” And they remind residents to “never provide your personal or financial information over the phone.”

VANDALISM

DO YOU KNOW THIS SUSPECT? Warwick Police are attempting to identify a suspect in “regard to multiple vandalisms at the VFW Post #272,” according to a post on their social media accounts. They posted photos (below) and asked the public to “please send any information to Detective DiGregorio” at keri-ann.leighton@warwickri.gov or by calling 401-468-4237. (Photos courtesy Warwick Police)

EDITOR'S NOTE: The preceding arrest log information has been taken from arrest and incident reports provided by the Warwick Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies.