Cranston Police Department Arrests Seven Individuals As a Result of Increased Holiday DUI Patrols

Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of Police, announces that as a result of an ongoing effort to ensure the safety of the motoring public by removing impaired operators from our roadways, a total of four individuals were arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs on New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day 2017. The Cranston Police Department deployed eleven extra patrol officers on the holiday as part of the the Rhode Island Impaired Driving Enforcement Task Force (Operation Blue Riptide). The Task Force utilized High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) patrols during the New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day holiday period targeting suspected impaired drivers. The Task Force is a coordinated effort by several municipal law enforcement agencies across the State and the Rhode Island State Police, which deployed increased DUI Patrols in their respective jurisdictions. These officers patrolled the roadways last night from 7 PM and into the early hours of New Year’s Day morning, ending at 3 AM. The additional patrols were funded by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Office on Highway Safety.

The subjects arrested by the Cranston Police Department for Driving Under the Influence are identified as:

• Carlos Sepulveda, age 20, of 668 Prairie Avenue, #636, Providence, Rhode Island, charged with DUI -1st offense

• Julio Garcia, age 42, of 20 Booth Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, charged with DUI and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test. Garcia was arrested after crashing his vehicle on Knollwood Avenue. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.

• Ronald Bonin, age 49, of 200 Fieldstone Road, Saunderstown, Rhode Island, charged with DUI and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test.

• Francisco Martinez, age 30, of 127 Johnson Street, Providence, Rhode Island, charged with DUI and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test. Martinez was arrested as a result of a motor vehicle crash on Laurel Hill Avenue at the intersection of Union Avenue. The operator of the vehicle struck by Martinez was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

During the enforcement effort, Officers working the detail conducted 47 motor vehicle stops, issued 42 summonses and arrested two other subjects who are identified as:
• Victor Roots, age 19, of 10 Oak Street, Cranston, Rhode Island, charged with Driving without a License – 3rd Offense, Obstructing a Police Officer, Possession of Sched I-V and a 3rd District Court bench warrant.
• Davianna Docouto, age 18, of 10 Oak Street, Cranston, Rhode Island, charged with Weapons other than Firearms and Possession of Marijuana (over one ounce – 1st offense).
Regularly scheduled patrol officers also made two additional arrests leading into New Year’s Day to include:
• Gloria Sandoval, age 47, of 205 Linwood Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, charged with Domestic Disorderly Conduct, Domestic Simple Assault, and Resisting Arrest
• Javier Perez, age 37, of 54 Prudence Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest
• Anthony Ford, age 26, of 223 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island, charged with Trespassing and a Superior Court Warrant

Colonel Winquist stated, “I want to thank all members of the public who drank responsibly last evening by not getting behind the wheel. I want to also commend the Officers in Cranston and across the State for their efforts during the Operation Blue Riptide/Rhode Island Impaired Driver Enforcement Task Force deployment. Unfortunately, four individuals in Cranston last night and early this morning allegedly chose to drink and drive. Two of these individuals caused motor vehicle crashes, with one of these crashes sending an innocent motorist to the hospital. This activity is simply unacceptable and it is fortunate the crashes that occurred did not result in serious bodily injury or worse, a fatality. If convicted, the motorists arrested must now begin the New Year facing the potential of thousands of dollars in fines and loss of their drivers’ licenses. Drinking and driving is simply not worth the risk.”