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December 12, 2006

Mending fences? Chief Thomas and Carcieri meet

PROVIDENCE -- Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and Governor Carcieri met this afternoon -- their first face-to-face meeting since the tribe's bid to build a casino in West Warwick failed.

The two say they hope to mend fences after a rocky time between the state and the tribe.

Among the issues they discussed was the nearly $400,000 in slot revenue that's due to the tribe under an agreement Lincoln Park struck with the state. The tribe has not accepted the money because Thomas says the wording of the agreement is not clear on how it can be used.

Thomas and the governor say they'll each work with leaders in the General Assembly to make the wording more agreeable.

The two also spoke about economic development and discussed an unresolved legal battle over sovereignty on land the tribe purchased in 1991. That dispute is headed to the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals next month.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:46 PM | Comment

Stolen Quinn statue found in Providence scrapyard

BRISTOL -- A 500-pound bronze sculpture stolen from the Bristol estate of the actor Anthony Quinn has been found.

The sculpture was discovered in a Providence scrapyard.

Quinn's widow, Katherine, says the Bristol police returned it to the estate this afternoon.

The curator for Quinn's trust says it suffered only minor damage from being moved around in a truck. The artwork will be taken to a conservator in New York and then put in a more secure location in the house.

Quinn himself made the sculpture, which is titled Mercedes Woman and valued at more than $250,000.

Katherine Quinn reported the sculpture missing last week from the estate's front lawn. She says she's trying to figure out who took it -- but is thrilled to have it back.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:38 PM | Comment

Woman's death under investigation in Lincoln

LINCOLN -- The police are investigating what they called the suspicious death of a 25-year-old Arnold Street woman, Police Chief Robert Kells said today.

The woman was found dead in her 55 Arnold St. home by a parent at about 9 a.m., Kells said. He said there was evidence of possible blunt force trauma on the dead woman’s body, but he couldn’t speculate on a cause of death until after the state medical examiner's office finished its examination.

The woman, whose identity was being withheld pending notification of the rest of her family, lived with her mother, Kells said.

-- Journal staff writer John Hill

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:32 PM | Comment

Sex offender gets 20 years after Barrington incident

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge today sentenced a Providence man to serve 20 years in prison after the man violated his probation in June by approaching a 9-year-old boy at a Barrington soccer field.

John W. Deware, 46, of 415 Friendship St., who admitted to the violation, had a no-contact order prohibiting him from being around children. He was convicted of child molestation in 1993.

Today's 20-year sentence followed a letter-writing campaign led by the boy's parents, John and Tanya Sexton. Writers lobbied the court to give Deware the maximum penalty of 26 years.

Standing eight feet from Deware in court today, John Sexton told Judge Jeffrey Lanphear that he wanted him to "know that this man truly deserves as harsh a sentence as you can give him."

In June, Deware allegedly parked his truck in a lot at the opposite end of a Barrington soccer field where the Sextons' son was alone kicking a ball on goal. The police said Deware walked the length of the field and motioned for the boy to come toward him. The boy ran home instead.

-- Journal staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Later that day, Barrington police pulled over Deware. He sped away and was captured after a chase, in Seekonk.

John Sexton said this afternoon that he was pleased with the sentence. He estimated 50 to 60 letters had been sent in support of a tough sentence.

Two Barrington town councilors were on hand at the courthouse after today's decision, which was also attended by Police Chief John LaCross. Council President Jeffrey Brenner, a lawyer, said the 20-year sentence was substantial in relation to what sometimes happens in these cases.

John Sexton said Daniel Guglielmo, the prosecutor in the probation violation case, had said the defense might seek a shorter prison term for Deware and that the Sextons should make clear in writing their support for a longer sentence, if that was how they felt.

In 1993, Deware was sentenced to 14 years to serve and 26 years suspended for molesting a North Kingstown boy in 1992 in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, according to court records and the state attorney general's office.

While serving that sentence, Deware admitted to raping a 15-year-old Cranston girl in 1990, according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch. Deware was sentenced to 20 years in prison, concurrent with the first prison sentence.

Deware was paroled in 2002. He violated his parole later that year and went back to prison for four more years. He was released in January.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:26 PM | Comment

Art teacher named RI teacher of year

WARWICK -- A Warwick art teacher has been named Rhode Island's 2007 Teacher of the Year.

Catherine Davis-Hayes, who teaches art at the Oakland Beach Elementary School, was surprised with the honors in a ceremony this morning that included Governor Carcieri and Education Commissioner Peter McWalters.

Officials honored the veteran teacher for her commitment to arts at a time when state mandates can make elective subjects like this one take a back seat to test preparation.

Davis-Hayes is an 11-year veteran of the school, which has in recent years climbed back from low-performing status.

In a statement, Carcieri praised Davis-Hayes' efforts.

“Cathy’s energy and dedication to the arts and to her students has earned her this important distinction," Carcieri said. "She believes in the power of the arts to help students make connections between ideas from throughout all their areas of study. Rhode Island is very fortunate to have teachers of Cathy's experience, ability, and commitment.”

-- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:13 PM | Comment

Photo: Computer removed from shooter's house

Freetown police, working with a regional computer crime task force, today removed a computer from the home of Scott Medeiros. Medeiros was killed this morning at the Foxy Lady in New Bedford. The mayor says Medeiros, 33, shot himself after killing two managers of the strip club.
Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:07 PM | Comment

43-year-old indicted for murdering sex partner

PROVIDENCE -- A grand jury has indicted Brian Mlyniec on one count of murder for the June killing of a West Warwick woman during an apparent violent sexual encounter.

The police declared Kelly Anderson's death suspicious after discovering her body bruised and bleeding, her wrists and ankles chafed from improvised restraints inside Mlyniec's West Warwick home.

Mlyniec, 43, denied slaying 41-year-old Anderson, according to a police affidavit. But he said he had caused the visible injuries during a consensual and violent sexual encounter, the affidavit says.

Mlyniec will be arraigned on the murder charge in Kent County Superior Court on Dec. 15.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:49 PM | Comment

Son's picture rejected by yearbook; mother, ACLU sue

The mother of a Portsmouth high school senior is suing the school department for rejecting a yearbook photo featuring the boy in a chain mail coat with a prop sword over his shoulder.

The student, Patrick Agin, is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization which reenacts medieval and Renaissance history.

The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit on behalf of Patrick's mother, claiming that the school is violating her son's freedom of speech by rejecting the photo, according to an announcement released today.

The ACLU is asking a Superior Court judge for a temporary restraining order preventing the school from printing the yearbook without Patrick's photo.

Portsmouth High School principal Robert Littlefield suggested earlier in the month that the photo would violate the school's "zero tolerance" policy banning weaponry.

In a letter sent to the principal last week, ACLU executive director Steven Brown criticized the school for its "cookie cutter" approach to education that punishes students "not for being bad, but for being different."

The letter cited an incident four years ago when Julie Cahill, another Portsmouth High School senior -- and a member of the National Honor Society, drama club and former class president -- was barred by school officials from participating in a mentoring program because she had purple hair and a nose ring.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:50 PM | Comment

Johnston school officer suspended without pay

JOHNSTON — A police officer assigned to daytime duty at Johnston High School was suspended late last month and stripped of his pay after an investigation found that he had strayed from department regulations in his management of a situation involving a student, the police said today.

The officer, Paul DiMaio, a member of the force for seven years, received a six-month suspension on Nov. 24.

Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini said he cannot provide more details on DiMaio's conduct for legal reasons, but he emphasized that the information gathered by investigators shows that no student was harmed by the officer.

DiMaio asked to be removed from his assignment as a school resource officer amid a swirl of rumors in early November.

The officer realized his departure was in the best interest of the school and the department, Tamburini said.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

"He was the victim of such rumors that he could not function there any longer," he said.

Tamburini said police investigators worked closely with the school department to gather information on the case, talking to teachers and students.

"We did a very thorough investigation," he said.

Tamburini suspended DiMaio for six months on Nov. 24.

The suspension is without pay and ends on May 24, said the department's Deputy Chief Gary W. Maddocks Jr.

Both Tamburini and Maddocks said that a state law known as the police officer's bill of rights keeps them from commenting on DiMaio's conduct during the period of his suspension. The officer can still contest the suspension.

Tamburini expects DiMaio to rejoin the force after his suspension. The officer will not return to his job at the high school, Maddocks said.

DiMaio has never been disciplined at any other time during his seven years on the force, Tamburini said.

DiMaio's position at the high school was taken by Officer James Seymour.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:50 PM | Comment

Firefighters rush to Providence mall for report of smoke

PROVIDENCE -- Fire crews are responding to the report of an elevator smoking from an overheated motor at Providence Place Mall.

The mall has not been evacuated, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department.

More details are not yet available.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:43 PM | Comment

Foxy Lady in Providence closed today

The Providence branch of the Foxy Lady strip club will be closed today because of the deadly shooting in New Bedford.

Three people were killed early this morning when a Freetown man who had been barred from the New Bedford club opened fire, killing a security guard and club manager Tory Marandos, 30, before apparently turning the gun on himself, according to the police and the club owner. (Read the full story.)

Marandos "was one of the best guys," according to a woman standing in the parking lot of the Providence club this morning who said she was a waitress, but declined to give her name. The club was set to open at 11:30 a.m., but a sign on the door said it would be closed all day.

"It's just too sad," said another woman outside the Chalkstone Avenue club today who said she worked there, but declined to give her name.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:29 PM | Comment

Judge opens Station-fire hearing to the public

PROVIDENCE -- Tomorrow's hearing on whether the public can see transcripts of secret grand jury testimony will be open to the public, a Superior Court judge ruled this morning.

When Judge Joseph F. Rodgers Jr. scheduled tomorrow's hearing two months ago, he ordered that it be closed to the public and that all legal briefs regarding whether the grand jury material should be disclosed also remain confidential. The closure was necessary to protect the secrecy of grand jury matters.

But this morning, at a hearing on a motion by The Providence Journal to open the hearing, Rodgers said he now sees no danger that an open hearing tomorrow would divulge grand jury matters. He also said that all the briefs filed in the matter have no grand jury secrets in them and ordered the court clerk to make them public.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

Posted by Paul Parker at 11:33 AM | Comment

Family escapes morning house fire in Bristol

BRISTOL – A house fire reported by a neighbor early this morning caused significant damage to a single-family home at 24 Sampson St. and destroyed a couple cars in the driveway.

All the occupants of the house escaped safely, Bristol Police Lt. Nick Guercia said this morning.

Fire crews remain at the house, but the police have left the scene because there “doesn’t appear to be anything suspicious,” Guercia said.

A neighbor called 911 at 6:18 a.m. today. The fire department has learned there was a wood-burning stove in the area of the house where the fire started, but it’s too early to say what caused the fire, Guercia said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:06 AM | Comment

Download today's Journal front page

Today's front page includes stories about the state distributing $2 million for political campaigns during the last election and the shooting deaths of three brothers in Gaza City.

Download the front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:24 AM | Comment

Another mild day

PROVIDENCE – Winter temperatures seem to have taken a back seat again to this warmer weather.

We’ll have a high around 44 today and a rainy high tomorrow of 49. Then, expect highs in the low- to mid-50s for the rest of this work week.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for late tonight and into tomorrow morning because of potential pockets of freezing rain in portions of northern Connecticut, most of Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The greatest threat for icing is between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:13 AM | Comment

3 killed when gunman opens fire in New Bedford club

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Three people were fatally shot, and several others, including two police officers, were wounded at an early morning rampage at a New Bedford strip club, the police said.

"At this time, we have three confirmed dead, one on the outside on the sidewalk, one in front of the building and we believe the shooter inside the building is confirmed dead," Capt. Richard Spirlet said. "We also have two officers that have been shot. Their injuries do not appear to be life threatening. We also have several patients who have sustained gunshot wounds as well."

The police did not immediately release the names of the dead or injured.

The gunman -- wearing body armor -- entered the Foxy Lady at about 2:30 a.m. and opened fire before killing himself, the police told WSAR radio.

The Foxy Lady is located on Route 6 at the New Bedford-Fairhaven line. The street and bridge were closed during the investigation.

-- The Associated Press

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang called it "divine intervention" that the officers weren't more seriously hurt.

The officers were providing a security detail at the club.

A state police helicopter, canine unit and special tactics unit responded to the scene, a state police spokeswoman said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:00 AM | Comment