Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The grand jury has concluded its investigation into the death of Craig Raposa, who died in police custody on Feb. 3, 2012.
The statewide grand jury today concluded its investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Craig Raposa. Raposa died while in the custody of members of the Portsmouth Police Department on Feb. 3, 2012 in Portsmouth, according to a press release from the Attorney General's Office. "The statewide grand jury has determined that the actions by the officers were lawful and legally justified," according to the release. This incident was investigated by State Police with the Office of Attorney General, and presented to the grand jury. "It is the responsibility of the grand jury to determine the facts, apply the law to those facts and to decide whether anyone may be charged with criminal wrongdoing," according to the …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Four people were transported to local hospitals Wednesday after a head-on crash on West Main Road.
Updated at 2:57 p.m. Four people were injured Wednesday morning after a head-on collision before 5:30 a.m. on West Main Road near King's Grant. Four people were injured, including one person with "very serious injuries" still trapped inside the vehicle when crews arrived. The collision involved four-vehicles, according to a press release from the Portsmouth Police Department. According to the press release, a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta was operating northbound on West Main Road when it crossed over the double yellow lines and sideswiped a 2006 Toyota Solara. The Toyota Solara, operated by Suzette Wilcox, 49, of Warren, was traveling southbound on West Main Road. "After colliding with the Solara, the Volkswagen then struck a 2007 Chevy …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Fast action on the part of the truck driver might have saved the lives of police officers this past week.
Quick action taken by the truck driver involved in the 7-vehicle crash on the Sakonnet River Bridge might have helped save officers' lives and the lives of others this past Monday. According to Portsmouth Chief of Police Lance E. Hebert, the unidentified truck driver immediately hit his truck's air horn to warn others in the vehicle's path. At the time, two Portsmouth police officers were investigating a motor vehicle accident in the south bound lanes of the Sakonnet River Bridge. The operator of a dump-truck, who was approaching the scene, lost control of his truck, according to a press release. One of the police officers was standing outside his vehicle at the time, while another officer was just exiting his vehicle, Hebert said. The …
Sunday, December 2, 2012
State Police are reportedly leading an investigation into a fatal crash on the Mt. Hope Bridge Saturday night.
Updated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Motorists were directed to find alternate routes Saturday night after police closed Mt. Hope Bridge to all traffic following a serious motor vehicle crash. Multiple sources from both the Portsmouth Fire and Police Departments confirmed the crash involved a fatality. Information about the victim or possible victims is unknown at this time. According to The Providence Journal, one man died and five other people were injured after a two-vehicle crash around 7 p.m. The identity of the deceased man and those injured have not been released. Multiple people were reported to be injured, according to Capt. Michael O'Brien, spokesperson for the Portsmouth Fire Department. Portsmouth and Bristol Rescues were called …
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Four-year-old Nicholas Gear, of West Greenwich, died Sunday despite a teenager's attempts to rescue the boy from a backyard pool.
Portsmouth Police identified the young boy who drowned in a backyard pool Sunday and described a teenagers attempts to save the victim. Nicholas Gear, 4, of West Greenwich, drowned after wandering into a backyard pool at 120 Cottage Ave., according to Portsmouth Lt. Brian Peters. The boy had been missing for about five minutes when a 14-year-old family member discovered him at the bottom of an above-ground pool. The teen dove into the pool and pulled the boy out, but he was unresponsive, Peters said. The Portsmouth Fire Department responded to emergency calls and rushed Gear to St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River, MA, where he was pronounced dead, Peters said. Portsmouth Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Check back with …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The following arrest information was supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Portsmouth police arrested a Tiverton man on a warrant Tuesday afternoon. William Whitmarsh, 47, of Tiverton, was wanted on a Second District Court warrant for failure to appear in court. Whitmarsh was arrested at his business and later transported to district court for arraignment.
Monday, May 7, 2012
The following arrest information was supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
A Little Compton teenager, once arrested for allegedly acting disorderly and using a racial slur, was arrested Thursday at Portsmouth High School. Joshua Despres, 18, of Little Compton, a student at Portsmouth High School, was arrested at the school at 10:45 a.m. Police were called to the school for a report of an alleged assault. Despres allegedly attempted to talk in the hallway with an 18-year-old Little Compton female, also a student at the school. According to police, the two recently ended a relationship. During the discussion, the female student attempted to walk away. Despres allegedly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. The female student managed to walk away a second time. However, police say Despres then stepped in …
Monday, April 23, 2012
The following arrest was supplied by the Tiverton Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Tiverton police charged a Portsmouth woman with disorderly conduct and making crank calls last Saturday after she allegedly made several threats to her estranged husband. Deborah Natale, 41, of 34 Buckwheat Drive, Portsmouth, was arrested at 10:15 p.m., Saturday, April 21. She was charged with domestic disorderly conduct and making crank or obscene phone calls. According to Lt. Patrick Jones, police received a call from a man on Riverside Drive stating he was receiving harassing calls. Jones said the victim resides there with his girlfriend, and alleged that his estranged wife, Natale, sent text messages directed at him and his girlfriend. The texts allegedly went as far as threatening bodily harm and planting a bomb in the victim's car. …
41.640841
-71.185479
Tiverton Police Department
20 Industrial Way, Tiverton, RI
/articles/portsmouth-woman-allegedly-threatens-ex-husband-with-planting-bomb-in-car
496725
/locations/6861883
Friday, April 13, 2012
Craig Raposa, 25, died following a struggle with Portsmouth police.
State Police have completed their investigation into the death of Tiverton resident Craig Raposa, reports WPRI.com. State Police have given their final report to the Attorney General's Office, but the findings are not being released at this time, according to the article. Raposa, 25, a Portsmouth native and graduate of Portsmouth High School, died on Feb. 3 of unknown causes following a struggle with Portsmouth police, in which pepper spray was used. Portsmouth police said Raposa had a history of mental illness; however, his mother blamed authorities for her son's death. Raposa's mother said her son was bipolar. The incident now remains under the investigation of the Attorney General's Office.
41.592439
-71.253356
Portsmouth Police Department
2270 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI
/articles/state-police-end-probe-into-craig-raposa-s-death
226652
/locations/6788859
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The following arrest information was supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
A Little Compton teenager was arrested Tuesday for allegedly sending harassing text messages to a Portsmouth woman. Jill Sartini, 19, of Little Compton, was arrested at the Portsmouth Police Department and charged with making crank or obscene phone calls. The Little Compton teen allegedly sent harassing text messages to a 24-year-old Portsmouth woman after the victim asked Sartini to stop. The texts were sent on March 28. Sartini responded for questioning at the police station, where she was arrested. She was later released with a district court summons.
41.592439
-71.253356
2270 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI
/articles/police-log-little-compton-teen-arrested-over-text-messages
/locations/6729639
Andy Muller
5:13 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I would like to thank the Portsmouth Fire Department for their professionalism. The fireman that assisted me used his personal cell phone to contact my wife. I wish to thank all the fireman that responded to the call. My prayers and well wishes are extended to all parties of the incident. If it was not by the grace of God I also may have died. more ›