Police & Fire

The Portsmouth Police Department today(June 10) shared details on Facebook regarding a fatal motorcycle crash that they responded to on June 5 (Thursday). The operator of the motorcyle was identified as Juan Pablo Garcia Castro, 36, of Middletown. Fatal Motorcycle Crash – News Release Portsmouth, RI — (June 10th, 2025) — On June 5, 2025, […]

The Newport Police Department is investigating a shoplifting incident from May 26 and is asking the public for help identifying the suspects. On Wednesday, the department posted images on Facebook showing two individuals and a motorcycle they believe are linked to the theft. Detective Jack Billings, who’s leading the investigation, is calling on anyone who […]

Good Thursday morning, Newport! Here’s our daily rundown of what’s happening out there today, plus all that you need to know; enjoy! Weather Forecast Coastal Flood Advisory in effect from May 22, 4 PM until May 22, 7 PM Today: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 10 am. Some of the storms could produce heavy […]

Portsmouth police are stepping up their efforts to combat drunk driving, with several arrests made during a recent weekend enforcement push. From May 9-11, 2025, officers patrolled the town and responded to calls, resulting in four DUI charges and one arrest for public drinking. On May 11, Christina Santos, 27, from Fall River, Mass., was […]

A Massachusetts man is facing multiple charges after leading Tiverton police on a foot chase that ended with his arrest and the recovery of stolen property. Jesse Dossantos, 37, from New Bedford, was caught on May 5 after Officer Nikolas Constantino spotted him walking on Stafford Road around 10:15 a.m. Constantino recognized Dossantos as matching […]

A violent clash in Newport has led to the arrest of four people after two police officers were injured Tuesday night. The trouble started when police responded to a domestic violence call at the Festival Field Housing Development around 9:12 p.m. on April 29. Officers identified Angel Cruz Martinez, 28, of Newport, as the suspect […]

The Newport Police Department is on the hunt for a suspect in a credit card fraud case, and they’re turning to the public for help. On Tuesday afternoon, the department posted a photo of the person they’re looking to identify on Facebook. They’re not sharing many details about the fraud itself or when it happened, […]

The Newport Police Department is asking the community for help in identifying a suspect involved in a recent shoplifting incident at a local boutique. Police have shared three photos of the individual on social media, looking for information about the theft that happened on April 21 at Thryn Boutique on 433 Thames St. Detective Brett […]

Portsmouth Police have arrested a 56-year-old Rhode Island man on charges of indecent solicitation of a minor. Michael Collins of Harrisville was taken into custody at his home on April 7 around 6:33 a.m., according to a statement on the Portsmouth Police Department’s Facebook page. The arrest comes after the Portsmouth Police Detective Division investigated […]

A stabbing incident in Newport has led to the arrest of a 39-year-old Providence man. Hezekiah Mendoza was taken into custody early Thursday morning following a stabbing that happened Wednesday evening. Newport police got a call about a stabbed man at 12 Dudley Ave. around 6:12 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, they found a 35-year-old […]

A police operation targeting crack cocaine distribution in Newport has resulted in the arrest of two Massachusetts men on drug charges. Kolby McCoy, 25, and Jacques Jeanty, 21, both from New Bedford, Mass., were taken into custody on March 20 following an investigation by Newport’s Vice and Narcotics Unit. Police had their eye on McCoy […]

A 54-year-old woman from Tiverton has pleaded guilty to attempted bank fraud in a scheme that diverted nearly $225,000 from a Tennessee construction company. Brenda Partin entered her plea in federal court on Tuesday. Her sentencing is set for June 10, 2025. The fraud took place in August and September 2022. It involved a hacked […]

A 54-year-old Bronx resident has admitted to his part in a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted financial institutions across at least 10 states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Paul Keenan entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in federal court on February 27. The scheme aimed to defraud banks of about $143,000, […]

Quick action by Jamestown’s volunteer firefighters has led to the successful rescue of a person stranded on rocks near Beavertail Road. The Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department got the call at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. Someone was stuck on the rocks close to 530 Beavertail Rd. As soon as they arrived, firefighters started searching […]

A 24-year-old woman from Fall River, Massachusetts is facing DUI charges after being arrested by Portsmouth police on January 24. The incident, which involved a child passenger, occurred on East Main Road near Walgreens around 7:22 p.m. Police stopped Dara Dupre for speeding and noticed several signs of alcohol impairment, including a strong smell of […]

Two Portsmouth Transfer Station contract workers are facing charges for allegedly accepting bribes to allow unauthorized trash disposal. Paul Lapierre, 46, and Ricardo Torres Alcantar, 45, both from Providence, Rhode Island, were arrested on January 18 following an investigation by the Portsmouth Police Department. The investigation kicked off earlier this month when someone spotted a […]

Rhode Island police chiefs are ramping up efforts to keep roads safe this New Year’s Eve. They’re putting extra patrols on the streets to catch impaired drivers and urging residents to make smart choices. “We all share a responsibility to keep our roads safe this New Year’s season,” said Colonel Bradford Connor, President of the […]

A Portsmouth man was sentenced to six months of federal probation this week for shooting hawks on and around his property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Robert J. Ferreira, 65, admitted to using his air rifle to injure three red-tailed hawks and a Cooper’s hawk between October 2018 and March 2019. He pleaded guilty […]

A Tiverton man was arrested Monday morning after a foot pursuit in Lincoln Woods, according to Rhode Island State Police. Michael J. Silvia Jr., 45, of 301 Bulgarmarsh Road, Apartment 50, Tiverton, Rhode Island, was taken into custody at 9:15 a.m. near the State Police — Lincoln Woods Barracks on charges of obstructing an officer […]

Howard Thomas, 33, of 2 1/2 Pond Street, Newport, Rhode Island, was arrested by Rhode Island State Police on Thursday, November 7 at 7:31 p.m. following a motor vehicle accident investigation and subsequent traffic stop on Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket. Rhode Island State Troopers arrested Thomas after investigating a motor vehicle accident and conducting a […]

A former Rhode Island man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he fraudulently portrayed himself as a software developer and businessman to attract investments in non-existent companies and products. Jack A. Ranallo, 69, most recently residing in Manorville, NY, is facing seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of […]

The Newport Police Department has provided the following arrest and dispatch logs from 7 a. on Wednesday, September 25, through 7 am on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Arrest Log Wednesday, September 25 At 2:30 pm, a 28-year-old female from Newport, Rhode Island, was arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Simple Assault or Battery. Thursday, […]

Newport’s police activity remained low from Tuesday morning through early Wednesday, according to the latest arrest and dispatch logs. The 24-hour period starting at 7 am Tuesday saw no arrests, with the calm streak ending just after midnight. At 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, officers arrested a 39-year-old Newport man. He’s facing charges of disorderly conduct, resisting […]

According to the latest police and dispatch logs, the Newport Police Department reported a single arrest in the 24-hour period from Thursday morning to Friday morning. A 34-year-old Portsmouth, Rhode Island, man was taken into custody at 8:30 pm on Thursday on a charge of Obstructing Officer in Execution of Duty. In Rhode Island, obstructing […]

 The Town of Middletown has been awarded $250,000 in COPS Hiring Program (CHP) funds from the U.S. Department of Justice to add two new police officers. The COPS grant program provides federal funds to state and local law enforcement agencies to help pay for hiring and retaining officers or for new equipment and initiatives to […]