On May 8, 2015 at approximately 1118 pm,  Off. James Casey of The Rehoboth Police Department was performing a check of the Herb Chambers car lot on Winthrop St. (Rt.44).  As he entered the rear lot he observed a male subject walking between the vehicles and confronted him. The subject was identified as Michael D. Farias , 49 years old of Warwick RI.  Further investigation showed Farias to be in possession of a screwdriver, a pair of gloves, and a flashlight. The van Farias had driven to the scene contained numerous items commonly used in the theft of tires and rims from motor vehicles.  Farias was arrested and charged with possession of burglarious tools. He was held on $10,000 bail and is due in Taunton District Court on Monday May 10th  to be arraigned on the charge.  Sgt. Richard Shailor and Officer Louis DiBacco assisted Officer Casey with the investigation and arrest.

On 03/28/2015 Off. James Casey of the Rehoboth Police Department stopped a motor vehicle on Brook St.  after observing several instances of erratic and unsafe operation.  Further investigation resulted in the arrest of the operator. Kenneth Beck, 47 years old of Burrillville RI was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, operating to endanger, and  operating after suspension. He was released on $240 bail and is due in Taunton District Court on Monday for arraignment. 

On 03/02/2015 the Rehoboth Police Department took custody of Gilberto Oliveira-Mendes, age 21, of Taunton, MA who was being held without bail as a fugitive from justice in the State of RI.  Oliveira-Mendes was arrested in Providence RI on 02/26/15 at approx. 1600hrs after fleeing from Rehoboth Police Officer Craig Forget who was attempting to stop a U-Haul moving truck, driven by him, for a minor motor vehicle infraction on Winthrop St. (Rte. 44).  When Officer Forget activated his emergency lights Oliveira-Mendes pulled the vehicle over and when Officer Forget approached the vehicle it took off in an erratic manner traveling west on Rte. 44 towards Seekonk.  Officer Forget initiated a pursuit of the vehicle which continued to operate in an erratic manner and traveled at speeds near 70mph.  The vehicle continued through Seekonk and into East Providence and traveled onto Rte. 195 west towards Providence RI,  taking the South Main Street Exit.  Oliveira-Mendes continued on South Main Street, eventually abandoning the vehicle in the roadway and fleeing from Officer Forget on foot. After a lengthy foot pursuit Officer Forget was able to take custody of Oliveira-Mendes in the area of Peck St in Providence.  Officer Forget was assisted with the apprehension by RI State Police, Providence Police and East Providence Police.  After his apprehension Rehoboth Police Lt. James Trombetta identified him as Oliveira-Mendes who he recognized as the suspect wanted by Rehoboth Police for drug trafficking and drug distribution charges stemming from a 12/17/14 incident on County Street.  During that incident Oliveira-Mendes ran from police at the scene of a motor vehicle accident he was involved in on County Street.  Oliveira-Mendes fled the accident scene carrying a large suitcase which he later abandoned in the woods near the crash site.  Officers determined the suitcase contained a large quantity of narcotics, including over 2 kilos of suspected Heroin, approx. 500 grams of suspected Cocaine, over 3lbs of suspected Marijuana, and approx. 300 suspected Oxycodone pills.  A multi-agency search of the area ensued and Oliveira-Mendes was not located during the search.  An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for  Oliveira-Mendes and he had been eluding capture since. Oliveira-Mendes is due to be arraigned in Taunton District Court on 03/02/15 for offenses related to the December 17^th incident which include: Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Heroin, Poss. to Distribute Class D.  Oliveira Mendes will also face additional charges related to the 02/26/15 incident including: Speeding, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Failure to stop for police, marked lanes violations, Operating motor vehicle with suspended license, and failure to stop for a red light.

On 12/27/2014 Sgt. Richard W. Shailor of the Rehoboth Police Department attempted to stop an erratic operator on First St. in Rehoboth. The vehicle had first come to his attention after it was reported to have left the scene of a disturbance in Swansea. The suspect failed to stop for Sgt. Shailor and led officers from Rehoboth, Swansea, Seekonk, and the Massachusetts State Police on a 24 mile pursuit. During the pursuit the offender committed numerous motor vehicle violations and travelled at speeds 10-30mph over posted speed limits. The pursuit continued through Rehoboth, Seekonk, Barrington, before terminating on Old Stevens Road in Swansea. The suspect crashed his van into a fence at #265 and then fled on foot.  Officer Louis DiBacco of the Rehoboth Police Department was able to locate the suspect and attempted to place him in custody. The suspect resisted and had to be tased in order to be safely placed under arrest. Officer Matt Gardner of the Seekonk Police Department and  Trooper French of the Massachusetts State Police assisted Officer DiBacco with the arrest. The subject was identified as Robert Lowney Jr. 41 years old of Hummingbird Ln. in Swansea. Lowney is being charged with the following:

1)Operating under the influence of Liquor Third Offense

2) Operating to Endanger

3) Failure to Stop for Police

4) Unlicensed Operation

5) Resisting Arrest

6) Marked Lanes violation

7) Stop Sign Violation

He is due in Taunton District Court on 12/29/2014 for arraignment of the charges. The Swansea Police Department and the Seekonk Police Department will be fillinng their own charges in conjunction with this case. 

On 12/17/14 at approx. 1750hrs Sergeant James Medeiros and Officer Thomas Ranley were dispatched to the area of #80 County Street for the report of disturbance in progress. Upon arrival Sergeant Medeiros and Officer Ranley observed two vehicles in the roadway.  Two male parties were standing next to the vehicles and it was determined a minor motor vehicle accident had occurred and the two male parties were arguing.  At this time Officers were investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash when one of the male parties removed a large suitcase from the rear of one of the vehicles on scene and fled towards the woods.  The unidentified black male continued a short distance into the woods, abandoned the suitcase, and continued running from the scene. A subsequent search of the suitcase revealed a large quantity of assorted narcotics inside, police seized the suitcase as evidence.  A search of the area was conducted with the assistance of Dighton Police, Seekonk Police, Bristol County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Massachusetts State Police Dartmouth and Massachusetts State Police Air Wing Unit, the suspect was not located during the search.

During the course of the investigation police were able to identify the suspect as Gilberto Oliveira-Mendes, age 20, of Taunton MA.  During the search of the area Police arrested a female identified as Latesha Santos, age 24, of Wareham MA.  Santos was arrested after it was determined she had driven to the area to assist Oliveira-Mendes with his escape from the area.

The contents of the suitcase included approx. 2 kilograms of suspected Heroin, approx. 500 grams of suspected Cocaine, approx. 300 Oxycodone Pills and approx. 3 pounds of suspected Marijuana. The drugs have an estimated street value of $250,000.  Also found inside of the vehicle driven by Oliveira Mendes were two replica gas powered bb/pellet pistols one black 9mm replica and one silver .50 caliber Desert Eagle replica.

At this time an arrest warrant has been issued for Gilberto Olivieira-Mendes for trafficking in Heroin (Class A), trafficking in Cocaine (Class B) and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (Class D).  Santos was charged with Obstruction of Justice and Accessory after the fact and was due to be arraigned in Taunton District on 12/18/14.

Oliviera-Mendes is still at large and is wanted by the Rehoboth Police Department.  Any information on Oliveira-Mendes whereabouts contact the Rehoboth Police Department Detective Eastwood or Sgt. Ramos.

REHOBOTH POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE, 10/21/14
On 10/20/14 the Rehoboth Police Department took custody of Stephen Babbin, age 44, of Warwick RI and Carver MA.  Babbin was being held as a fugitive from justice in RI after being arrested over the weekend by RI State Police on an outstanding Rehoboth Police warrant.  Babbin was wanted by the Rehoboth Police Department for breaking into a home on Plain Street (Rte.118)  in Rehoboth back in December 2010.  Detective Jasson Ferreira was recently able to link Babbin to the B&E with DNA evidence collected from the crime scene.  Detective Ferreira was assisted with the case by Rehoboth Sgt. Brian Ramos and Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Group.  Babbin appeared in Taunton District Court on 10/20/14 and was arraigned on the felony charges of B&E Daytime , Vandalism of Property and Larceny from a Building.

On 09/18/14 at approx. 1100hrs Officer Jasson Ferreira of the Rehoboth Police Department was dispatched the Dighton Rehoboth High Regional High School to speak with a 15 year old Juvenile male regarding his disclosure of a past incident that had occurred in Rehoboth the previous evening. Upon his arrival Officer Ferreira met with school officials and the Juvenile student. During the course of his investigation he discovered the Juvenile had been sexual assaulted by an unknown male in Rehoboth the prior evening. The incident reportedly occurred at approx. 6p.m. on 09/17/14 when the Juvenile was walking on Providence Street and was approached by a unknown male who was driving a blue Sedan, the juvenile was then lured by the man into a wooded area off of Providence Street where the incident took place. Through his investigative efforts Officer Ferreira was quickly able to establish a suspect in the case. At approx. 1420hrs Officer Ferreira and other members of the Rehoboth Police Department apprehended the suspect in Rehoboth, he is identified as Daniel Ferreira age 34 of Rehoboth. Ferreira is being charged with the following offenses: Rape of a Child under 16, Enticement of a Child Under 16. Bail was set at $100,040 by Taunton District Court Clerk Doug Darnbrough. Ferreira was unable to post bail and was transferred to Bristol County House of Corrections in New Bedford. Ferreira is due to be arraigned in Taunton District Court on 09/19/14.

On 07/23/14 at approx. 4:30p.m. Lt. James Trombetta of the Rehoboth Police Department conducted  a motor vehicle stop on Winthrop Street (Rte.44) of a 2006 Ford Sedan for a traffic violation.  Lt. Trombetta quickly learned that the motor vehicle had been reported stolen from the City of Attleboro on 07/22/14.  The driver of the vehicle Kristylyn McKenna age 34 of Taunton, and the passenger, Kyle Fisher age 29 of Taunton, were quickly taken into custody and charged with Larceny of a Motor  Vehicle. Officer Thomas Ranley and Jacob Miranda assisted with the arrest.  McKenna was later released on $540 cash bail and Fisher was unable to post bail and was transferred the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.  Both parties are due in Taunton District Court for arraignment on 07/25/14.

On Saturday June 28,2014 at approximately 10:30pm, Officer Ryan Brule conducted a motor vehicle stop on Winthrop St.  During the stop Officer Brule discovered that a passenger in the vehicle had an outstanding arrest warrant issued against him.  Brule placed 28 year old Jay A. Munroe of 62 Vineland St in East Providence RI  under arrest.  Munroe was transported to the Station for processing and was released on cash bail.  Munroe will be arraigned on Monday June 30 2014 in Fall River District Court.   The warrant issued out of Fall River District Court was for charges brought against Munroe by the Massachusetts State Police for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, speeding, and marked lanes violation.

On 03/14/14 Officer Casey, Sgt. Shailor and Acting Chief Trombetta of the Rehoboth Police Department responded to a disturbance at J&J Materials located on Rt.6. The reporting party stated that a male subject was threatening to throw boulders through the windows of the business. Officers from Seekonk, Swansea, and Barrington assisted. Upon arrival the male subject had left the scene but was located a short distance away by Seekonk Officers who were familiar with the subject. After speaking with the reporting party the suspect, Gleb Barokha 30 years old with no known address was placed in custody for disorderly conduct and vandalism. It appears that there is no connection between the business and the suspect and his actions. Barohka is due in Taunton District Court on Monday to be arraigned on the charges.