Narragansett Police Log: January 26 and 27, 2012

Unless otherwise noted, information about the following incidents was supplied by the Narragansett Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Fight Leads to Broken Water / Beer Pong Table, But No Criminal Charges

According to police, an investigation into a fight at a Newport Lane home on New Year’s Day led only to Municipal Court citations for fighting.

After the investigation by police, Matthew T. Whiting, 21, of 406 South Westland Avenue, Tampa, FL, and Joshua R. Zaffino, 20, of 4 Wilderness Drive, Narragansett, were cited on Jan. 27 for fighting. Police said Whiting is a student at a Tampa-area college, and Zaffino is a student at the University of Rhode Island.

Police said that on Jan. 4 at about 3:11 p.m., they received a complaint from Zaffino in the lobby of police headquarters. Police noted that Zaffino had two black eyes, swelling on his nose and a bandage on his left arm.

According to police, Zaffino told them that he had been assaulted by Whiting at about 1 a.m. during a get-together at Whiting’s sister’s house on New Year’s Day.

Zaffino told police that he was playing “water pong” and was asked to leave by Whiting, who didn’t realize that Zaffino knew his sister. Zaffino told Whiting that he would leave when he was done playing water pong, but Zaffino said Whiting became angry, called him a “****ing piece of ****” and told him to leave immediately.

According to police, Zaffino said at that point, Whiting and a group of his friends became aggressive, and began to hit him, using a glass bottle at one point. Zaffino told police he tackled Whiting and managed to crawl out of the residence.

Zaffino told police that because of the fight, he had suffered a concussion, a broken upper nose and several lacerations that could have caused nerve damage. Police photographed his injuries, and asked him to provide them copies of his hospital treatment forms. Zaffino told police he wished to press charges, and gave them names of several people at the party.

According to police, a 20-year-old Narragansett man that was a friend of Zaffino corroborated his story. However, he told police he would not be able to recognize any of the people who had assaulted Zaffino.

When police interviewed Whiting on Jan. 5, he told them that his sister had requested he clear the house at about 2 a.m., because she was going to bed. Whiting told police that Zaffino and others were playing beer pong, and became agitated when he told them they had to go.

According to Whiting, he began to clear the table of cups. This made Zaffino angry, and he shoved a 20-year-old North Providence woman out of the way in an attempt to get at cups on the other side of the table. Whiting said Zaffino then started pouring cups of water on the table, during which time, the boyfriend of the North Providence woman had to be restrained from attacking him.

At that point, Whiting told police that he and Zaffino started to fight, and during the altercation, they broke a table. He denied that anyone had hit Zaffino with a bottle, and noted that because of the fight, there was broken glass on the ground, where they had been struggling with one another.

According to police, Whiting told them that after Zaffino had left the house, he tried to re-enter, claiming his “mafia ties” would kill Whiting. Whiting said Zaffino also told him that he would come back with friends and “**** everyone up.”

Police conducted interviews with several of Whiting’s friends, who corroborated his story and denied Zaffino’s claim of being hit with a bottle. Whiting’s sister also provided police with a text message from a number she believed to be Zaffino’s, which claimed that he had pushed a girl out of the way and called her brother a scumbag.

Police said that based on the conflicting stories and the lack of an independent witness, no assault charges could be brought forward. As a result, Zaffino and Whiting were cited in Municipal Court for fighting.

“I don’t have any crack.” – Providence Woman Charged With Possession of Marijuana

Tabitha Horn, 45, of 25 Toby St., Apt. #1404, Providence, was arrested at about 10:10 p.m. on Jan. 27 and charged with possession of marijuana.

According to police, they responded to a home on Desano Drive because of an open 911 line. When they interviewed the occupants – Horn and a 64-year-old Narragansett man – they denied that there had been any 911 call, and allowed police to search the home.

Police noted that Horn had blood coming from her left nostril. When asked about the blood, Horn said she had a medical condition that caused her to bleed from various orifices. Police said that was no evidence she had been hit or struck.

While on scene, a dispatcher notified officers that they had traced the number the 911 call came from. The dispatcher called the number, which came back to a cell phone in Horn’s coat pocket. Horn gave police permission to pick up her phone and to verify the 911 call.

However, police said that the coat and the phone smelled strongly of marijuana. When asked if she had any marijuana, police said Horn told them, “I don’t have any crack.”

When asked again about marijuana, the woman allegedly told police, “Nope, no crack, no coke.” Police traced the smell to a small change purse, which they opened, and said they found a small baggie of marijuana.

Police said Horn told them at this point, “It’s just a little weed, so what, I’ve been clean.” She was arrested and issued a Feb. 7 date for Fourth Division District Court. She was released from police headquarters at 11 p.m.

South Kingstown Man Charged With Suspended License Violation

Norman J. Strobel, 23, of 3642 Tower Hill Road, Apt. #B, South Kingstown, was arrested at about 11:45 p.m. on Jan. 27 and charged with driving with a suspended license.

According to police, an officer patrolling traffic on Point Judith Road observed a black Audi with a registration sticker that expired in March 2011. A traffic stop was made on Palm Beach Avenue near Melbourne Avenue.

Police said the driver – Strobel – did not have a proper title for the car, an insurance card or a bill of sale. Police added that the plates came back to a 1992 Chevy. When asked about the discrepancies, Strobel told police he had just bought the car, and put plates on it that he just had lying around.

According to police, a background check revealed that Strobel’s license was suspended. As a result, his car was towed from the scene, and he was placed under arrest. He was also cited for lack of proper insurance cards and a lack of proper vehicle registration.

Warwick Man Arrested for Warrant

Shane D. Mills, 40, of 45 Park Ave., Warwick, was arrested at about 9:21 a.m. on Jan. 27 for a warrant. Police said there was a Third Division District Court warrant out for Mills’ arrest for failing to appear at a court hearing for a Warwick police charge of receiving stolen goods.

According to police, a car seemed to swerve a bit while traveling on Point Judith Road. As a result, a traffic stop was made near the Westlakes Garage.

A background check revealed that the driver – Mills – had a warrant out for his arrest. He was arrested and transported to Fourth Division District Court for arraignment. He was also cited for swerving.

URI Student Cited for Transportation of Alcohol by a Minor

Keri Lynn Minicucci, 19, of Weldon Hall at the University of Rhode Island, was cited at about 9:39 p.m. for transportation of alcohol by a minor.

According to police, an officer traveling on Point Judith Road noted a car driving well below the speed limit of 45 miles per hour. The officer also noted that the car seemed to be switching lanes without reason. As a result, a traffic stop was made near Foddering Farm Road.

Police said a case of Coors Light beer was visible in the rear trunk area during the stop. The driver – Minicucci – was only 19, and the two passengers in the car were also underage.

The beer was confiscated and destroyed. Minicucci was cited for transportation of alcohol by a minor and issued a Feb. 7 date for Fourth Division District Court. She was allowed to drive from the scene.

Unless otherwise noted, the information for this article was compiled from Narragansett police reports, which are available for review by any member of the public at their . If we’re missing a call or report you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com.

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