Police: West Warwick Man Stole Car; Broke Into Richmond Business

RICHMOND, RI — A West Warwick man was arrested in Richmond early Saturday after police responded to a burglar alarm, found a stolen car sitting in the I-95 Exit 3 park-and-ride lot, and deployed a K-9 to help with the search.

Mark A. Masterson, 34, of 65 Cowesett Ave., is now charged with breaking and entering, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Late Friday, Richmond police responded to a burglar alarm at a Main Street business and saw signs of forced entry and window damage. Officers soon came upon a vehicle "parked in a precarious manner with a damaged window" at the commuter parking lot.

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According to a news release from the Richmond Police: Officers began to search the area, and K-9 Bico was deployed. Bico barked, and Sergeant Michael Lawing saw a man walk out of the woods toward an embankment near the highway. Police say Masterson initially ignored police orders but later complied, and at around 12:30 a.m. was arrested without incident. K-9 Bico found the suspect's belongings in the woods nearby.

Police say the damaged car had been stolen, and that Masterson was suspected of stealing it.

Masterson was held overnight and arraigned by a bail commissioner. Police said Masterson was already out on bail for an April 14 charge brought by Rhode Island State Police, and had several open cases with other police agencies.

Masterson was transported to a Department of Corrections facility where he was held pending pre-arraignment in 4th District Court.