Police Log

By Daniel Kittredge
Posted 10/28/15

Man takes own life at cemetery

A 47-year-old man last week died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest at St. Ann’s Cemetery after police and fire personnel attempted to save …

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Police Log

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Man takes own life at cemetery

A 47-year-old man last week died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest at St. Ann’s Cemetery after police and fire personnel attempted to save him.

According to police, information was received shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 22 that a man had left a suicide note at his home and may have been heading to the cemetery with a handgun. Two patrol officers who arrived at the cemetery located the man sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle.

The man refused to exit the vehicle, and the Cranston Police Department’s Special Response Team and police negotiators were deployed to provide assistance. Police said the man was seen periodically raising a handgun to his head.

Police said at 11:45 a.m., it appeared the man had lost consciousness, and Special Response Team members approached the vehicle and removed him. Officers then discovered the apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and fire personnel immediately transported the man to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police recovered a handgun from the vehicle.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this man who was lost today,” Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist said through a statement. “This was a very traumatic day for them, as well as the officers on scene who hoped to save the man’s life.”

2 charged after prescription pain pill seizure

Two men are facing charges after a motor vehicle stop resulted in the seizure of thousands of dollars worth of prescription pain pills, according to police.

Hagop Saribekian, 41, of 322 Veazie St. in Providence, is charged with possession of Schedule II and Schedule III narcotics, and was ordered held without bail at his arraignment in Third District Court last week.

Juan Hazard, 39, of 133 Dunedin St., Apt. 1, in Cranston, is charged with possession of a Schedule II narcotic with intent to deliver and possession of a prohibited weapon (knife). He was arraigned, with bail set at $10,000 with surety.

According to police, the men were arrested following an Oct. 22 traffic stop. A search of the vehicle in which the two men were driving is said to have revealed 1,000 Oxycontin pills with a street value estimated at more than $40,000, as well as six additional assorted bills and a knife with a blade over three inches in length.

Through a press release, Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist said: “Arrests such as these are critical in removing the illicit supply of prescription narcotics responsible for fueling opioid addictions and contributing the continual spike in overdose deaths in our cities and towns. We will continue to focus our efforts on arresting those who choose to profit from this illegal activity while ignoring the pain and suffering they cause to society.”

Man pleads guilty to heroin, crack trafficking

A Cranston man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of trafficking heroin and crack cocaine.

Dennis Bernard, 29, entered the plea on Oct. 21, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha. He was formally charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.

Cranston and Warwick police arrested Bernard on June 26 of this year following a joint investigation. As part of the probe, an undercover Warwick detective is said to have made several crack purchases from Bernard.

A search warrant at Bernard’s Cranston home was executed on June 24, and police seized approximately 44 grams of crack, 25 grams of heroin, $6,251 in cash, and various items used to package and distribute drugs. The cash and items prosecutors say Bernard purchased with proceeds from his drug trafficking – including a BMW, a Rolex watch, and other jewelry – was seized and has been forfeited to the government.

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