Newport Police Log: Weekend of August 6-8

The following reports detail the arrests made by the Newport Police Department from Friday, August 6, through the early morning hours of Monday, August 9. Descriptions of all events are based solely on police officer reports provided to Patch.

Four Arrested After Fight Near Bannister's Wharf

Newport police arrested several men early Sunday after a fight broke out near Bannister's Wharf.

• Christopher Alonardo, 30, of Medford, MA, was arrested on a simple assault charge. Officers in the area say they were approached by a 21-year-old Warwick woman who said that when she was leaving a bar, a man, Alonardo, approached her and began yelling, saying he'd spit on her and her friends. The woman said she felt wetness in her hair, and that Alonardo had also spit on her friend, before a group of people rushed toward him and a fight broke out.
• During that same incident, officers arrested Michael Matthew Ferra, 23, of Warwick, on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after they observed one man throw a punch at another, later identified as Ferra. An officer says he ran toward the suspect and drew his Taser, yelling for him to get on the ground. The suspect reportedly started to struggle, but eventually laid down. As the officer was about to place handcuffs on the suspect, he says he heard another officer yelling to arrest Ferra. Ferra reportedly refused to cooperate and began to physically struggle with the officer, prompting the policeman to strike him with his asp. Ferra continued to struggle, so another officer ran up with his Taser and fired him in the abdomen. According to the report, Ferra immediately went to the ground, while other officers arrived to hold back the crowd. He was taken to Newport Hospital.
• Police also arrested Robert Savino Tice, 21, of Warwick, on charges of obstruction of an officer and resisting arrest. Officers report that Tice came over during the incident and said he was going to stay with his Ferra. Officers say they told him multiple times to leave the area, but that at one point he said he didn't care and attempted to push past the officer. Officers grabbed Tice, but he immediately tried to get away. They eventually got him to the ground and hancuffed him.
• John Stephen Falcone, 28, of Norwood, MA, was also arrested at the scene on a disorderly conduct charge after he was found kicking another man in the face. When he was approached by police, the report says Falcone immediately attempted to flee the area, but was caught after a short foot chase.

Out-of-Town Men Arrested

• Scott Portell, 20, of Potosi, MO, was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct. An officer reports that he was outside One Pelham East around its closing time when a woman approached reporting that a group of men would not allow her or her friends to get into the limo they'd paid for. The officer said he noticed several men blocking the women from getting inside the vehicle, and that one of them was attempting to escort Portell away from the area, but that he broke away in a violent manner and ran toward the women. The officer said he grabbed Portell, but he pushed back and attempted to come at the officer and make threats. The officer told him he had one more chance to leave the area, but Portell walked toward the officer and threatened to fight. The officer grabbed him onto the ground, where Portell swung at him several times, punching him in the body. The officer returned the punches.
• James Tracey Watters, 25, of Huntington, MD, was arrested on charges of simple assault and resisting arrest. During the incident, police say Portell's friends tried to pull him away, but that officers ordered the crowd back. All reportedly moved, except for one, who was later identified as Watters. Officers say Watters was yelling and pulling at the officer who was holding Portell, telling him to get off of him. When officers told Watters to back off, they say he went after the officer with his free hand and struck him with a closed fist. Officers told him he would be tasered if he didn't get on the ground, and when he refused to comply, swinging at the officer, another officer tasered Watters in the back, causing him to fall on the ground. Still, according to the report, Watters did not comply and tried to get up, so the officer administered another five-second taser cycle and told Watters to put his hands behind his back, which he now did. Officers restrained Watters and transported him to Newport Hospital to get the taser probes removed. Police say Watters told them that he was trying to help his friend because he was his responsibility. Watters was charged with simple assault and resisting arrest.

Disorderly Conduct Charges

• Veronica Marie Samuels, 36, of 143 Third Street Apt. 6D in Newport, was arrested around 1:52 a.m. Saturday on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Officers were monitoring a large crowd inside Via Via on Thames Street around 1:45 a.m. when they noticed a disturbance in front of the women's bathroom. Police say the women in line were accusing Samuels of cutting the line and walking into the bathroom. After a couple of minutes, Samuels reportedly came out and began yelling and swinging her fist at one of them. Officers say they grabbed her by the arm and escorted her away, but that she was uncooperative and tried to pull away and leave several times. Officers eventually detained her.

• David W. Fullerton, 47, of 15 Meeting Street in Newport, was arrested around 7:56 p.m. Saturday on a disorderly conduct charge. An officer in the area of Broadway and Farewell streets around 7:53 p.m. reported hearing a man yelling loudly. When he looked up, the officer said he saw Fullerton walking quickly behind a teenager, swinging his arms and yelling threats. The juvenile approached police and said Fullerton was bothering him and that he wanted him to go away. The officer then handcuffed Fullerton for safety, but said that he wouldn't calm down and kept yelling, drawing attention from patrons who were eating outside at establishments in the area.

Assault Charges

• Durell I. Parker, 24, of Providence, was arrested around 10 a.m. Friday on a disorderly conduct charge. An officer was dispatched to the Festival Field apartment complex, on Girard Avenue, for a report of loud yelling between a man and woman there. The policeman said he arrived to find a 22-year-old Newport woman standing outside her apartment, yelling for Parker to get out. When police approached the doorway, the officer said he saw Parker slamming CDs down on a coffee table. Parker was told to sit down, but reportedly disobeyed, then turned to his left and reached down for a two-foot long metal pipe that was leaning against the table. Because the officer deemed the pipe a potential deadly weapon, he drew his Taser and aimed it at Parker, telling him to let go of the pipe or he'd be tased. Parker then released his hand from the pipe. Police arrested him, but report that he continued to try and resist as he was escorted to the cruiser.

• A 12-year-old Newport boy was arrested around 9 p.m. Saturday on a simple assault charge. Officers were dispatched to Ann Street Pier around 8:41 p.m., where they found a 14-year-old Newport boy who said the other child had assaulted him, then fled the area south on Thames Street. Officers noted the teen had a laceration under his left eye and abrasions on his arm. Officers spoke with the 12-year-old boy, who said the other had knocked him to the ground. The 14-year-old's mother said her son wanted to press charges, so police handcuffed the 12-year-old boy and took him to the station for booking, where he was later picked up by his father.

• Brett James Mrozowski, 24, of 25 Spouting Rock Drive in Newport, was arrested around 9:40 p.m. Sunday on a simple assault charge at Forty 1 North on Thames Street. A 67-year-old man told police that he was celebrating his daughter's birthday there when Mrozowski, who they didn't know, came up and sat at the table. When he was asked to leave, the man said Mrozowski stood up and waved his arms across the table, knocking glasses and plates over. The chef reportedly came out and identified Mrozowski as an employee of Forty 1 North. He and a bartender grabbed him and dragged him out the door, telling him to leave.
• James M. Hollis, 38, of 12 Canonicus Avenue in Newport, was arrested around 11:25 p.m. Sunday on a domestic simple assault charge after his wife reported that he'd grabbed her and slammed her into a wall. Officers had their daughters confirm the incident, then responded to Hollis' home address, where they arrested him.

DUI Charges

• David Clopeck, 52, of 882 Middle Road in Portsmouth, was arrested around 9:20 p.m. Friday for a drinking while driving charge after officers stopped him for turning left at a red light off Bellevue Avenue.
• Venecia Martinez McCann, 42, of Roxbury, MA, was arrested around 4:25 a.m. Sunday on charges of drinking while driving and open container after officers pulled her over near Thames Street and Washington Square. Officers say she was driving the wrong way up Washington Square when they stopped her. McCann told them she was lost and that she had a flat tire, but no such damage was discovered. Officers say they found an open bottle of cognac in the front seat.
• Rebecca Ann Hogan, 31, of 21 Almy Street in Newport, was arrested around 2:40 a.m. Monday for a drinking while driving charge after she crashed into a pole near Spring and Pope streets.

Trespassing Charge

Richard Eric Huling, 21, of 42 Sherman Street in Newport, was arrested around 10:55 a.m. Saturday on charges of willful trespass and possession of marijuana. Officers were dispatched to the Rolling Green apartment complex around 10:48 a.m. after a 911 call came in with yelling in the background. Officers arrived and knocked on the door, where they were greeted by Huling, whom they knew had a no trespass order from the management of Rolling Green. When officers asked him why he was on the property, Huling said he knew about the order, but claimed that his lawyer had told him he could come on the property. Officers arrested Huling and brought him to the station for booking, where they found a small bag of marijuana in his possession.

Failure to Restrain Animal

Patrick M. Baker, 41, of 79 Miantonomi Avenue in Middletown, was cited for failure to restrain his animal around 8:40 a.m. Saturday after his dog was reported loose on Broadway.

Noise Citation

Joseph M. Mitchell, 34, of Dorchester, MA, was cited around 2:23 a.m. Saturday for a noise disturbance at 9 Chapel Street. Officers were dispatched there for a report of loud music and people, and when they arrived, they say they had difficulty getting anyone to answer who was renting the apartment. Officers asked Mitchell to turn the music off, but he just turned it down, until told again to turn it off. Mitchell reportedly told police that it was his wedding night and that he was having a party for guests.

Warrant Charges

• A 17-year-old Newport teen was arrested around 8:23 p.m. Friday after turning herself in at the police station for a family court capias warrant.

• Christopher Robinson, of 143 Third Street Apt. 137G in Newport, was arrested around 4:22 p.m. Saturday for a Second District bench warrant, which officers discovered after a motor vehicle stop near Second Street and Van Zandt Avenue.

• Mark J. Perry, 27, of Providence, was arrested around 6:10 p.m. Sunday on an arrest and affadavit warrant after a motor vehicle stop on Dr. Marcus Wheatland Boulevard near Marlborough Street.