RI State Police Arrested 12 Motorists and 1 Boater for Operating Under Influence

SCITUATE, RI — Rhode Island State Police arrested 13 people this past weekend on
charges of operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including a boater
arrested on Great Salt Pond on Block Island, according to Colonel Ann C. Assumpico,
Superintendent of State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety.

«With summer upon us, we want to send a strong message to everyone who lives in or
visits Rhode Island: We will not tolerate motorists or boaters who operate under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, putting others at risk,» Colonel Assumpico said.

The boating arrest occurred around 11:05 p.m. Friday, when troopers arrested Robert
John Kinne, 32, of Deep River, CT, for operating a watercraft while under the
influence of drugs or alcohol and refusal to submit to a chemical test. The arrest
occurred after his vessel was stopped on Great Salt Pond and escorted back to the
dock by the New Shoreham Harbormaster and members of the Coast Guard. He also was
cited for speeding and failing to follow rules of navigation for inland waterways.

Twelve others were arrested for driving under the influence over the weekend:

* Jose Hernandez, 54, of 821 Main St., Pawtucket, was arrested about 2:35 p.m.
Friday after troopers received calls for an erratic operator on Route 95 north in
Providence. He was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol
content greater than .15 (Phase 1: .275; Phase 2: .275) – which is more than three
times over the legal limit of .08.

* Michael Marchetti, 30, of 3524 West Shore Road, Warwick, was arrested about 9
p.m. Friday during a motor vehicle stop on George Arden Avenue in Warwick. He was
charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and refusal to submit
to a chemical test.

* Steven Clark, 24, of 26 Evergreen Road, Glocester, was arrested around 11:50
p.m. Friday after troopers responded to a call for a wrong-way driver headed east
in the westbound lanes of Hartford Avenue in Johnston. He was charged with driving
under the influence with a blood-alcohol content greater than .15 (Phase 1: .158;
Phase 2: .156). He also was cited for driving the wrong way.

* Manuel Corniel, 55, of 118 Hamilton Street, Providence, was arrested about
12:35 a.m. Saturday after troopers received reports of an erratic operator on
Route 95 South in Providence. He was charged with driving under the influence with
a blood-alcohol content greater than .15 (Phase 1: .151; Phase 2: .149).

* Christopher Lohin, 31, of 61 Long Entry Road, Glocester, was arrested about
12:55 a.m. Saturday during a motor vehicle stop on Pontiac Avenue in Cranston. He
was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and refusal to
submit to a chemical test.

* Brandon Howard, 25, of 65 Canton St., Providence, was arrested about 1:25 a.m.
Saturday after his car struck a roadway sign on the ramp from Centerville Road to
Route 95 north in Warwick. He was charged with driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs and refusal to submit to a chemical test. He also was charged
with violating the terms of his probation from a previous, unspecified charge.

* Eduardo De La Cruz, 21, of 56 Bourdon Boulevard, Woonsocket, was arrested
about 2:50 a.m. Saturday following a traffic stop on Route 95 in Providence. He
was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content greater
than .15, second offense (Phase 1, .189; Phase 2, .178). He also was wanted for
violation of probation of a previous narcotics charge.

* Gerald Beyer, 27, of 633 Grove St., Woonsocket, was arrested about 3:10 p.m.
Saturday after a minor crash on Route 295 South in Smithfield. No injuries were
reported. Beyer was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol
content of .10 to .15 (Phase 1: .139; Phase 2: .140).

* Tony Towsley, 50, of Alburgh, VT, was arrested about 6:35 p.m. Saturday during
a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Westside Road and Ocean Road in New
Shoreham. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and
refusal to submit to a chemical test.

* Jessica Wilcox, 31, of 120 Spruce St., Providence, was arrested about 10:30
p.m. Saturday after a motor vehicle stop on Route 95 in Warwick. She was charged
with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and refusal to submit to a
chemical test.

* Jorge Hernandez-Ruiz, 24, of 215 Althea St., Providence was arrested about
10:45 p.m. Saturday during a traffic stop on Heath Street in Providence. He was
charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and refusal to submit
to a chemical test. He also was charged with obstructing a police officer;
presenting false documents to a public official; and driving without a license –
third offense.

* Michael Fitzgerald, 58, of Plainfield, CT, was arrested about 5:30 a.m. Sunday
after troopers received reports of a one-car crash on the exit ramp for Exit 4 on
Route 95 in Richmond. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol
or drugs and refusal to submit to a chemical test. He also was charged with
driving with a suspended license; disorderly conduct; obstruction of a police
officer; and failure to appear for payment review on a previous charge of driving
under the influence.