Police Charge Five Men With Breaking Into Cars

Woonsocket Police officers patrolling for people breaking into cars in the area of Lydia Avenue arrested five suspects Jan. 16, including one man who briefly eluded capture.

Detective Patrick McGourty and another detective were patrolling near 197 Hawthorne Circle in an unmarked car at about 11:59 p.m. when they saw four men walking together, according to his report. The detectives stopped and questioned the men, ordering them to place their hands on the hood of their car.

When McGourty asked what the group was up to, one of them said, "Just out for a walk." McGourty said his attention was then turned toward the home's driveway, where a man with a goatee, wearing blue jeans and a black leather jacket approached with his hand in his waistband.

"Who the f*** is this?," the man asked, according to McGourty's report, to which he replied "Woonsocket Police, let me see your hands."

Instead, the man continued to approach with his hand in his waistband. He stopped abruptly, and removed his hand, throwing an object, later identified as a BB gun, to the right and sprinting away. 

In the driveway, McGourty reported he found a car with its interior lights on, unlocked, with the center console open. A check with the home's owner revealed nothing appeared to have been taken from the car.

The detectives retrieved the BB gun and put it in their car, calling for assistance, to which four officers responded. The first four men, George Knight, 19, Frank Costa, 24, Miguel Rondon, 22, and Christopher Smith, 27, all of 37 Pardis Ave. apt. 1, were arrested and charged with tampering with an automobile and conspiracy.

Costa, who had a knife over 3" was also charged with posession of a prohibited weapon and larceny of less than $1,500. He also had a District Court warrant for failing to appear.

While checking the area, McGourty got a call from an officer who had located a man, Joshua Barbosa, 22, of 25 Fairmount Ave., who he identified as the man who had run from him earlier that night. Barbosa was charged with conspiracy and tampering with an automobile. There was also a warrant out for Barbosa's arrest for failing to appear in court.