State Police Investigating Dust-Up Between Contractor, Councilman

The State Police are investigating a dispute between Councilor Mike Farley and a contractor over a ladder that Farley said was stolen.

Newport police said they were called to the scene after Farley reported an altercation between himself and 41-year-old Kevin Schiavone, who was working next door.

Schiavone said he took the ladder from Farley's property by mistake and apologized. He is also claiming that Farley attacked him during the confrontation and has asked for charged to be filed.

Farley, however, in a detailed account posted on Newport Patch, said Schiavone swung first.

"He clearly did not expect me to stop by the house in the middle of the day.  When he flailed at me, I was wearing a suit and tie, but I still defended myself - spinning him and shoving him away. He tripped over a cobblestone and landed face first on my lawn. He continued to curse, and when he got up and lurched toward me, I spun him and shoved him away again.  After he fell a second time, he stopped and yelled that he was sorry for taking my ladders. He also offered to pay me a rental fee for using them without permission. I declined and told him to get my ladder off of his truck," Farley wrote.

Farley said he called police and informed them of the incident. 

Farley noted that he had a similar issue when the contractor reportedly took tools from a deceased client of Farley's.

Farley said he's upset that the incident has caused some people to accuse him of perpetrating violence. Farley said other members of the City Council have told others that he attacked a contractor.

"He didn't tell the other councilors that the contractor stole 2 ladders from me, and he didn't tell them that the contractor admitted that the ladders did not belong to him, he didn't tell them that the contractor assaulted me when I confronted him with his possession of my stolen property, and he didn't tell them that the thief did not have a license to drive the car on which he transported my ladder, and he didn't tell them that I was the individual who contacted police before, during and after the incident," Farley said, referring to a claim that Mayor Harry Winthrop told other members of the council that Farley was the instigator.

Newport Police did not release any details about the incident, referring the matter to the State Police.