‘It’s a free country,’ says man after allegedly urinating in public

Posted 2/21/17

Here are some highlights from the Portsmouth Police reports from over the past week.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


‘It’s a free country,’ says man after allegedly urinating in public

Posted

Here are some highlights from the Portsmouth Police reports from over the past week.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Karen A. Lopez, 59, of 80 Cedar St., New Bedford, was charged at 10:16 p.m. with driving while intoxicated (first offense) and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Police said they stopped her car for speeding and leaving the lane of travel on West Main Road.


IN OTHER POLICE NEWS: Read about a Portsmouth man who was scammed out of $900 in a phony Valentine's Day kidnapping story.


Thursday, Feb. 16

Erin M. Sullivan, 34, of 114 Taylor Road, was charged with obstructing a police officer while in the execution of his duties shortly before noon. The charge stems from an incident first reported to police in September 2015, when Ms. Sullivan’s 36-year-old sister complained that her younger sibling had given police her name after getting into an accident on Aug. 29, 2015 in Portsmouth. She told police she and Ms. Sullivan look similar, and that her younger sister used her name since she didn’t have an active license and had a warrant out for her arrest at the time, police said. Police contacted Ms. Sullivan and she came to the police station to be processed. She was released with a summons to appear in District Court on Thursday, Feb. 23.

David W. Gallagher, 33, of 42 Island Ave., was charged at 11:26 a.m. with willful trespassing after police were dispatched to Douglas Avenue for a report of someone looking into a nearby vacant home. Police said they found a car parked in front of the home, with two females inside, then saw Mr. Gallagher exit the front door of the residence. According to police, Mr. Gallagher said he entered the home only to “look around in case he thought of purchasing the residence,” and that he didn’t take anything.

Saturday, Feb. 18

Christopher S. Freitas, 42, of 70 Island Ave., was charged at 12:30 a.m. with disorderly conduct (exposing his genitals) after a police officer observed him urinating on the front of the Beachcomber bar and restaurant in Island Park. A woman who was driving her car nearby stopped and told the officer than she and her daughter had also witnessed Mr. Freitas urinating. When the officer approached him, Mr. Freitas said it was a “free country” and that he could urinate wherever he pleased, according to police.

Tori J. Costa, 20, of 4 Sunset Ave., Danvers, Mass., was charged at about 5 a.m. with driving while intoxicated (first offense), underage transportation of an alcoholic beverage and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Police responded to the area of Boyd’s Lane and Mello’s Farm at about 3:44 a.m. for a report of a single-vehicle accident. When police arrived, they found a Honda Accord off the roadway with its passenger side tires lifted off the ground. There was a 21-year-old man in the front, passenger seat and three females in the backseat, police said. However, there was no one sitting in the driver’s seat and the car was still running, police said. The man was somewhat uncooperative and was unable to identify the driver, whom he said had fled the scene on foot, according to police. The females in the back, ranging in age from 20 to 24, were also unhelpful, police said. Everyone involved appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and police said they found two empty cans of beer outside the vehicle and two full cans inside. Upon further investigation, police said they determined that Ms. Costa was the driver and that the man was her brother.

John M. Mandelino, 25, of 69 Highwater Ave., Massapequa, N.Y., was charged at 11:43 a.m. with driving with a suspended license. Police said they stopped his car on West Main Road near Union Street because it had left the lane of travel. Mr. Mandelino had also been distracted by his cell phone, said police, who issued him a summons for texting while driving.

A police officer used her gun to euthanize a badly injured deer that was lying on West Main Road near Raytheon around 3:30 p.m. 

Duane A. Logan, 41, of 32 Grant St., Apt. 2, Fall River, was charged with reckless driving/drag-racing/eluding police and possession of an illegal weapon (a knife), at 4:45 p.m. An officer, who knew Mr. Logan had an active arrest warrant out of Newport for an assault charge, spotted him fueling his vehicle at Mobil Xtra Mart and started following him south on West Main Road. The officer activated his cruiser’s emergency lights but Mt. Logan failed to stop as it headed onto Donna Drive, police said. At the end of the street, the car finally stopped, but Mr. Logan got out and ran toward Chase Farm, police said. He eventually stopped and went to the ground after several commands, according to police. During a search, police found a blade attached to Mr. Logan’s belt buckle that was about 3.25 inches in length, and a second, slightly larger knife that was found inside the car, police said.

Sunday. Feb. 19

Kelly L. Mesler, 27, of 78 Pine Tree Road, was charged at about 8 a.m. with driving with a suspended license. Police stopped her car on West Main Road near Greene Lane because it had an expired inspection sticker. 

James C. Perreault, 31, of 16 Benedict St., Providence, was charged at about 5 p.m. with obstructing an officer while in the execution of his duties. Police stopped his vehicle after observing it being operated through some water to exit a rear, closed-off picnic area at Gull Cove State Park off Route 24. Police said Mr. Perreault initially gave his first name as “Jerome” and also provided a false birthdate.

Portsmouth Police, crime news, arrests, police reports Portsmouth Police Department

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.