Narragansett Police Log: October 24 and 25, 2012

Unless otherwise noted, information about the following incidents was supplied by the Narragansett Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Narragansett Man Charged With Drunken Driving (Even Though It’s Private Property) (That He Doesn’t Own Anyway)

Justin J. Cunha, 34, of 354 South Pier Road, Apt. #305, Narragansett, was arrested at about 3:18 p.m. on Oct. 25 and charged with drunken driving, disorderly conduct and possession of an illegal knife, and cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test.

According to police, an employee at Stop and Shop called police after noting a man stumbling out toward his car, a red Oldsmobile. Police said that while en route to the parking lot, they received another call about a red Oldsmobile involved in a traffic accident at the Salt Pond Plaza.

Police said when they arrived, Cunha – the driver of the Oldsmobile – was agitated and screaming obscenities at another man. Police separated Cunha and the other man.

According to police, when they asked Cunha what had happened, he told them “nothing happened” and the incident was an “insurance scam.” He also allegedly told police he couldn’t be arrested because he was on private property.

Police said they spoke to the owner of the other car involved in the incident. The woman told police that she was sitting in the car with a family member, and Cunha was attempting to back out. In the process, his car hit her’s.

A Stop and Shop employee – the man police saw Cunha arguing with – also provided police with a statement. He said he was the initial caller, after he saw Cunha stumbling to his car. He told police that after he witnessed the accident, he told Cunha to stop, at which point he got upset.

Both said two other Stop and Shop employees outside at the time provided similar statements, and security footage from the store of the parking lot also corroborated their stories.

Police said they asked Cunha to submit to field sobriety tests, which they said he refused to complete after one test. Police said that before and after the one test, Cunha again told them, “This is private property, you can’t give me a DUI.”

At this point, Cunha was arrested. Police said that during processing at headquarters, Cunha kept repeating, “You can’t give me a DUI, I can be drunk on private property.” He then told police, “I want you to get Senator McBurney down here.”

Police said Cunha refused to submit to a chemical test, and a pat-down revealed a pocket knife with a blade over the legally allowed limit. He was processed and then released at about 9 p.m.

Johnston Man Charged With Writing Bad Checks

Derek Calabro, 38, of 51 Oak Hill Drive, Johnston, was arrested at about 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 and charged with writing a fraudulent check, value less than $1,000.

According to police, on Aug. 31 they received a report from a charter fishing company that a check written by Calabro bounced. The check was for $500 for a striped bass fishing charter on Aug. 5.

Police said multiple attempts were made by officers and the charter fishing company to contact Calabro between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3, with negative results. A warrant was issued on Sept. 6.

According to Narragansett police, state police at the Lincoln Woods Barracks picked Calabro up on Oct. 25. He was picked up by Narragansett police at about 1 p.m., processed and then released at 3 p.m.

Westerly Man Arrested for Three Warrants

Ian M. Schwarz, 21, of 9 Fairview Ave., Westerly, was arrested at about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 24. Police said three warrants from Fourth Division District Court were out for his arrest.

According to police, an officer familiar with Schwarz from previous arrests saw him leaving Cumberland Farms on Point Judith Road. As a result, a traffic stop was made on Galilee Escape Road on the pick-up truck Schwarz was driving.

Police said Schwarz was arrested without incident and held for arraignment at 9 a.m. at Fourth Division District Court.

According to police, warrants were issued after Schwarz did not appear at court hearings related to a South Kingstown police drunken driving charge, and Narragansett police and New Shoreham police charges of disorderly conduct.

Unless otherwise noted, the information for this article was compiled from Narragansett police reports, which are available for review by any member of the public at their headquarters on Caswell Street. If we’re missing a call or report you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com.

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