North Providence Woman Accused Of Crashing Stolen Car In Richmond

RICHMOND, RI — A 34-year-old North Providence woman who was wanted on a previous criminal warrant is now being held without bail after police say she crashed a stolen car into a tree in Richmond while intoxicated.

Richmond police responded to KG Ranch Road at around 3:40 p.m. Sunday after a caller reported that someone had crashed a car into a tree and left the scene. Police say they found Emilia Martinelli, 34, behind the wheel of a heavily damaged vehicle that had come to rest on the front lawn of a nearby home.

Police said Martinelli showed signs of intoxication and was placed under arrest. Investigators discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of North Providence on Feb. 20.

Martinelli is charged with one felony count of possessing a stolen motor vehicle, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, and a civil count of refusal to submit to a chemical test. She was arraigned Monday as a bail violator on a previous breaking and entering charge, and additionally arraigned on the new charges. Martintelli was ordered held without bail at the ACI in Cranston pending an April 16 felony screening court date.

"The car was heavily damaged," said Richmond Police Chief Elwood M. Johnson, Jr. "They are lucky they did not kill themselves or someone else."