MPD: Traffic Stop Leads to Four Arrests

On Friday, Oct. 12, around 11:24 p.m., Middletown Police pulled over a gray Buick on West Main Road because it did not have a valid registration sticker. The female driver said she had recently purchased the car, and did not have the paperwork. Police asked for identification from the four passengers.

Two of the passengers, Fred Humphrey, 33, of 27 Poplar St., Tiverton, and Donald Knotts, of 762 Globe St., Fall river were found to have active bench warrants and were placed under arrest.

A third passenger identified himself as Chris Owens and provided police an identification and a security number. Police could not find information on that name and suspected it was a false identification.

When challenged, the man was adamant his name was Chris Owens, said police. Police asked the other passenger, Ian Duarte, of 24 Coddington St., Newport, who also said his name was Chris Owens, even after police told Duarte he could be arrested for obstructing an officer.

Police researched possible identities for the man through cross agency checks and found a photo match and a tattoo match, of “Truth” and “Loyalty” on his hands. When police asked Owens if he was really 20 year-old Scott Smith of 36 Park Holm, Newport, he admitted that was his true identity, said police.

Smith and Duarte were both arrested for obstructing an officer in execution of duty. Smith was also charged for an active bench warrant.

In other arrests

• Richard Igle, 61, of 100 Almeida Ter., Portsmouth was arrested on Sunday Oct. 14 around 2:35 p.m. for an active bench warrant.