North Smithfield Police Arrest 3 In School Vandalism Case

NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI — Two adult women and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with property damage at the old Dr. Harry L. Halliwell Memorial School at 358 Victory Highway.

On May 18, the North Smithfield Police Department received a complaint about broken windows at the former school property. The police department said video surveillance cameras captured a vandalism incident. Detectives reviewed the footage and said they identified three suspects, the department said. The suspects were arrested, booked, released, and ordered to appear in court at a later date.

North Smithfield Police Department

Emily Lariviere, 18, of North Smithfield and Kristen Nelson, 23, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, were arrested and charged with vandalism. A juvenile suspect from North Smithfield was also arrested on a vandalism charge.

The North Smithfield School Department maintains surveillance cameras at the Halliwell site, said Capt. Riccitelli. He said the damage was reported by the highway department after maintenance workers saw broken windows.

"Let this serve as a deterrent to anyone who thinks they can trespass and vandalize the Halliwell School property," Riccitelli told Patch. The captain said it's not the first time there have been problems at the site.

The Halliwell School opened in 1957 and was decommissioned in the summer of 2019.