April 2022 The Reporter
East Providence News Briefs East Providence Police Arrest Three in Catalytic Converter Thefts
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Portions of this News Briefs were compiled with contributions from Bob Rodericks.
Inside This Issue
Local police, assisted by the Rhode Island State Police arrested three out of state suspects in the theft last March of some 14 catalytic converters. Police were called to the Rhode Island Truck Center on Amaral Street for a report of a larceny in progress on March 12 around 2 a.m. “A caller reported that several individuals had gained access to the gated facility and were actively stealing catalytic converters from several commercial vehicles. Responding officers encountered a silver Mazda sedan exiting the parking lot occupied by three males wearing black ski masks,” said Police Chief Chris Francesconi. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but their commands were ignored. The vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed towards the Wampanoag Trail. Several officers pursued the vehicle on Pawtucket Avenue before it continued onto Route 195 westbound. During the pursuit, the vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side front tire. The vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed on three wheels onto Interstate 95 north and eventually Route 146 north. “Our officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but their commands were ignored. The vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed towards the Wampanoag Trail. Several officers pursued the vehicle on Pawtucket Avenue before it continued onto Route 195 westbound,” added the chief. During the pursuit, the vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side front tire. The vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed on three wheels onto Interstate 95 north and eventually Route 146 north. “We notified surrounding agencies of the pursuit which was eventually terminated near the Smithfield Avenue exit on Route 146. Rhode Island State Police located the vehicle a short distance away where the vehicle attempted to exit onto Route 116. The vehicle became disabled, and all three suspects fled on foot. All three were subsequently taken into custody by Rhode Island State Police,” Chief Francesconi reported. Rhode Island State Police recovered 14 catalytic converters from the vehicle, each valued at approximately $1,500. Officers identified several vehicles that had the catalytic converters removed. Detectives are currently investigating the incident to see if the suspects are connected to other catalytic converter thefts in East Providence and surrounding communities. The three suspects were eventually transported to the East Providence Police Department where they were identified and arraigned by a bail commissioner. Jose Vazquez, age 27 of Chicopee, MA. Nathaniel Vazquez, age 26, and Roberto Jourdan, age 24 both of Springfield, MA. They were variously charged with: Larceny over $1,500 (6 counts), Injuring or Tampering with Vehicles (6 counts), Eluding an Officer/High-Speed Pursuit, Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty and Conspiracy.
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Councilman to Draft Ordinance to Deter Converter Thefts
City Councilman-at-Large Bob Rodericks asked council colleagues to support his call for an ordinance intended to deter the chronic thefts from residents and businesses of stolen catalytic converters. “Catalytic converter theft is at an epidemic proportion, here and across the country,” Rodericks said at the March 15th city council meeting. I had this item placed on the docket well before the recent arrest of three suspects and it is very coincidental but timely to discuss this now,” Rodericks said.
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