Marco died of an internal injury at Hasbro Children's Hospital Oct. 4 after allegedly having been struck by Patino the previous day, according to the news release.

Although charged with murder, which is a capital offense, Patino, like every defendant, had a constitutional right to a bail hearing, the release noted. The hearing started Oct. 30 and extended through Friday afternoon, after which Cenerini found that the state's prosecutors, Special Assistant Attorney General Molly Cote and Assistant Attorney General Randy White, had met the state's legal burden, according to the Rhode Island Constitution, that "the proof of guilt is evident and the presumption of guilt is great."

The state must prove a higher burden, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, if the case goes to trial in Superior Court.

"This is only the first step of a very long and tortuous road to ensure justice for young Marco," said Lynch.

With just less than two months to go in 2009, 57 motorists and 10 pedestrians have died on Rhode Island roads and highways, more than died in all of 2008, said Col. Brendan P. Doherty, superintendent of the R.I. State Police.

And the holiday season hasn't started.

In 2008, there were a total of 53 motor vehicle and 12 pedestrian fatalities. Some of the reasons for the increase in fatalities include speed, inattentiveness (including texting), driving while intoxicated, and motorists not wearing seatbelts.

Jay Sullivan, a state traffic safety resources prosecutor, said 20 of those who died were younger than 30. Of those, three were killed in motorcycle crashes, and two of those were not wearing helmets. Of the 17 people under 30 who who were in vehicles, none was wearing a seatbelt.

Of people older than 30, the dead included 29 people who were not wearing seatbelts.

"There's only one thing we have in mind when we come to a press conference like this," said Law Enforcement Highway Safety Training Coordinator Richard Sullivan after the press conference, "and that's saving lives."

By Tatiana Pina
Journal Staff Writer

WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- In the past two days, the Woonsocket Police arrested people from two families who they said were selling marijuana, and confiscated 145 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $145,000.

Two of the six people who were arrested possessed medical marijuana cards, the police said.

Woonsocket Police and Cranston Police, working together on one of the cases, announced the arrests during a news conference at Woonsocket Police headquarters Friday, where they showed off the materials they confiscated, including pounds of marijuana in reclosable plastic bags and black trash bags, pot plants and materials to grow them, as well as a 12-guage shotgun and some cash. The room reeked of the fresh marijuana.

On Wednesday, the Woonsocket Police arrested Edward Thimas, 28, of Upland Road, Woonsocket, and Raymond Thimas Jr., 30, of Forrest Street, Warwick. Each was charged with possession of marijuana 5 kilos and over and eluding police. Raymond Thimas also was charged with resisting arrest, according to Lt. Eugene Jalette of the Woonsocket Police.

Police Chief Thomas Carey of Woonsocket said the brothers are wholesale drug dealers who were providing marijuana to northern Rhode Island and the Cranston area.

Raymond Thimas had a medical marijuana provider card, according to Maj. John Schaffran of the Cranston Police. Schafran said the police had been investigating the brothers for months. He said Cranston Police responding to a call of suspicious activity at a location in Cranston ran into Raymond Thimas in July. They continued to investigate and later were able to link him to the alleged drug operation, he said

"It was a complete abuse of that license," Jalette said.

A tip from Woonsocket Police Department's new tipline helped the police arrest another group of family members who the police said had been growing and selling marijuana at their Woonsocket home at 149 Earle St.

The Woonsocket Police arrested four people at that house Thursday: Sean T. Hawkins, 24, of Woonsocket, was charged with possession of marijuana; Austin Murninghan, of 149 Earle St., was charged with 2 counts of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, two counts conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act, and one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

Michael Patrick Murninghan, 50, Austin Murninghan's father, who also lives at 149 Earle, was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, maintaining a narcotic nuisance, and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act.

Corey Murninghan, 24, Michael Patrick Murninghan's son, also of the same address, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy to violate the Substance Control Act. The police said Corey Murninghan had a medical marijuana card, although it is unclear whether he is licensed as a user or a provider.

All men except for Hawkins are being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a bail hearing review, Jalette said.

The Providence Journal has been following is story today as it develops. Our initial report was posted at 12:30 p.m.

Woods on Friday declined to discuss the lawsuit in detail, but told The Associated Press he wants "justice" for his brother, Michael, who was 49 when he died at Kent Hospital of an apparent heart attack.

Michael Woods was a former video-store owner and two-time mayoral candidate in Warwick. James Woods, executor of his brother's estate, claims that Michael received negligent medical care.

A jury was selected Friday, and opening statements are scheduled for Monday in Kent County Superior Court.

James Woods, who grew up in Warwick, received Oscar nominations for his performances in "Ghosts of Mississippi" and "Salvador." Other credits include "Nixon," ''Casino" and the CBS legal drama "Shark."

Lawyers for both sides say they won't discuss the case while it's pending.

The jury cleared Morin of a second charge of child molestation. The jury delivered its verdict Wednesday to Judge Robert D. Krause.

The victim alleged that she had been molested by Morin from 1989 to 1992.

Krause ordered Morin, who had been free on bail since his Dec. 8 arraignment on one count of first-degree child molestation and 15 counts of second-degree child molestation, held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions. A motion for a new trial is scheduled for Nov. 20.

A Providence County Grand Jury in December indicted Morin on one count of first-degree child molestation and 15 counts of second-degree child molestation resulting from allegations of child molestation by five victims on dates ranging from Sept. 28, 1989, to Aug. 27, 2004. The crimes were alleged to have taken place in Bristol and Warren. At the time of the indictment, Morin listed an address at 15 Melrose Rd., Bristol.

"What makes this conviction important is that it stems from allegations of child molestation dating 20 years," Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said in the news release. "It's a case of perseverance paying off, and we're grateful that it did because the defendant is alleged to have continued to molest children and accumulate victims.

"We look forward to prosecuting this convicted pedophile on the pending charges, and gaining justice for his other victims as well."

Assistant Attorney General Craig Montecalvo and Special Assistant Attorney General Nicole DiLibero presented three witnesses at trial: the victim, the Department of Children, Youth and Families worker who, in 1992, took a statement from the victim; and Rhode Island State Police Detective Chris DiComitis who, in 1992 and while still serving as a Warren Police officer, also interviewed the victim.

Bulris was homeless, according to the police.

Maj. Arthur Martins of the Pawtucket Police said that an Amtrak maintenance crew saw Bulris' body around 12:30 a.m. in the area of the tracks near the vicinity of the Lynch skating arena.

Martins said that based on his injuries, it appeared Bulris had been struck by a train. The police are waiting to hear from the state medical examiner. The police do not know what train hit him and are contacting different train companies. The investigation into the accident is continuing.

The incident occured sometime after midnight Friday, according to the police.

LINCOLN, R.I. -- A Massachusetts man with a long, violent criminal record was shot in the face when he tussled with an undercover state police detective during a sting at Lincoln Woods State Park early Friday afternoon, said Col. Brendan P. Doherty.

Arjusz Roszkowski, 26, of North Reading, was planning to rob a bank, so he arranged to buy a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9 mm Glock from a man he believed was also a criminal, said Doherty.

But the seller was actually detective Christopher Zarrella, who posed as a criminal and arranged to meet Roszkowski at the park, Doherty said.

As more than a dozen members of the state police intelligence and tactical units waited in the woods just 15 to 20 feet away, Roszkowski gave Zarrella money for the guns, Doherty said.

When the deal went down, Zarrella identified himself as a state police detective, Doherty said. That, he said, is when Roszkowski reached into his waistband and pulled out a loaded 9 mm handgun.

Zarrella tackled the man to the ground, and they wrestled for control of the gun, Doherty said. The gun suddenly went off, he said, shooting Roszkowski in the chin, through his throat and out his ear.

Roszkowski was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he is expected to recover from his injuries, Doherty said. Zarrella had powder burns on his hands and one arm, but did not need medical attention.

By 1:30 p.m., some of the state troopers who had descended on the park were seen leaving the park's entrance off Twin River Road. Forty-five minutes earlier, leaders in the department -- including the second in command -- were driving to the scene, according to Lt. James Demers, the department's assistant detective commander.

A 28-year-old college residence hall director at Providence College, Arthur Dylag, 28, said he was running the loop around Olney Pond when off to his left he noticed a couple of black SUVs.

At least five men in army fatigues, amed with rifles, emerged from one of the SUVs yelling and screaming, Dylag said. He said he could not see who the men were yelling at. He continued to run, and witihin a minute heard what sounded like a firecracker but might have been a gunshot.

"It looked like a ROTC drill," said Dylag, who recalled seeing ROTC doing similar training exercises at Providence College.

At Lincoln Woods, shortly before 1 p.m., a North Providence resident described police SWAT team activity that she had witnessed. Christeen Barbado, 52, said she was walking her dog, Bailey, along a road in the park when she saw what she described as a police SWAT team running toward an area in a parking lot with their rifles drawn.

Barbado said that after the officers running caught her attention, she saw a body on the ground. She spoke with a man in the area who told her he had heard a gunshot, she said.

At 2:10 p.m., a black Ford Mustang was towed from Lincoln Woods.

Check back with projo.com for more details as they emerge.

-- With reports from Journal Staff Writers Kate Bramson and Mark Reynolds.

This story was first published at 12:56 p.m. and was updated at 1:18, 1:48 and 3:22 p.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Interfaith leaders gathered at a news conference Friday at the Jewish Community Center to defend Rhode Island's Muslim community in the aftermath of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.

The Rev. Donald Anderson, executive minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, said the news conference was called to "tell the Muslim community that they are not standing alone."

No anti-Muslim incidents have been reported in Rhode Island, said Anderson and Imam Farid Ansari of the Muslim American Dawah Center of Rhode Island.

"We know the actions of one individual did not represent the actions of one faith," said Marty Cooper, community relations director of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, referring to the Muslim U.S. Army officer who is accused of murdering 13 and wounding many others on Thursday.

The original version of this story was posted at 1:15 p.m. and updated at 2:53 p.m.

A statement released Friday announcing Ortiz's departure, is dated Nov. 5.

Ortiz wrote in a letter to the board of directors, "My admiration for the staff of Progreso Latino and the people they serve cannot be summed up in a few lines." He added, "Progreso Latino is not just another non-profit in Rhode Island. It serves as a beacon of hope for many that have no other place to turn."

Ortiz, who served as a consultant to Progreso Latino for the past three years, and was chief operating officer when he took over as interim director, said he plans to expand his consulting business.

He replaced Ramon Martinez, who resigned Sept. 25 to pursue a new career, possibly including "national endeavors." Martinez had served as executive director for three years.

The Rev. Eliseo Nogueras, chairman of Progreso Latino's board of directors, could not be reached.

Reed will be joined at 10:30 a.m. on WPRI-TV by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and Ed Rollins, Republican political consultant.

The complaint filed with the Circuit Court for Cook County, Ill., alleges that Summer Infant failed to properly warn consumers that signals from its video monitors could be viewed outside the consumer's home.

Summer Infant (SUMR:NASDAQ) designs and sells juvenile health, safety and wellness products to U.S. retailers. On Monday, the company reported net revenues for the third quarter of 2009 were $41 million, a 15-percent increase from $35.6 million in the third quarter of 2008. The revenue increase was driven in part, the company said, by strength in several key categories; including nursery, bath and monitors.

The company said it intends to vigorously defend itself against the complaint, according to the filing filed Friday with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Starting Friday night, the two-lane ramp for Exit 20 will be closed to make way for a new, temporary ramp about 1,000 feet south of its current location. The temporary ramp will be in place through next fall.

Only one lane will be open to access Route 195, and officials say at least one lane will also be closed on Route 95.

The work is expected to be done by late Saturday morning.

The work is part of the multiphase highway construction project known as the Iway

Navigating a college campus can be a daunting task, said Monica Darcy, coordinator of veterans programs at RIC: "It's the least we can do for service members and their families who have given so much for their country."

The center will provide information about degree requirements and refer students to the appropriate resources to help them be academically successful. RIC has 90 academic programs approved for veterans and employs a Veterans Administration official who verifies enrollment for veterans' educational benefits.

More than 140 students are currently receiving veterans' benefits and that number is growing daily, college officials said.

The center will provide information on federal benefits, availabillity of VA services, and connections to educational specialists in all branches of the service as well as various other veterans' groups.

The college also has a VA Work Group that meets during the academic year to identify ways to keep RIC a veteran-friendly place.

Shortly before 8 a.m., the 6-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl were crossing in the vicinity of 324 Orms St., which is about 100 yards from the crosswalk at the intersection of Orms, Smith and Candace streets, Police Sgt. Paul Zienowicz said Friday morning.

They were running across the street, from the south side to the north side, and crossed behind a dump truck that had stopped in the eastbound lane for the red light further east on Orms, Zienowcz said. That truck obscured the view of the children for the driver of a car that had just turned onto Orms from Smith Street and was traveling west, according to the police.

"At the point of the collision, the children actually ran into the side of the car, on the driver's side," Zienowicz said. "It was more they ran into the car than she struck them."

The children suffered non life-threatening injuries, Zienowicz said.

He refused to identify the children because they are juveniles. He said they attend the Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, a K-6 school located at 195 Nelson St.

The driver of the Subaru Outback -- Laura Levine, 36, who lives on Providence's East Side -- faces no charges, Zienowicz said. She has an active license, the vehicle is properly registered, and her insurance is active, he said.

"She didn't hit the kids," he said. "The kids ran into her."

The police post a crossing guard at the busy intersection of Orms, Smith and Candace streets. Zienowicz said the city's crossing guards are trained to help anyone at the intersection cross, not just the elementary school students for whom they are specifically posted to help.

"However, they're implicitly instructed not to leave their crosswalk if someone is going to cross not in the crosswalk," he said.

That would leave the crosswalk open -- without anyone helping walkers in it -- as a potential danger for those using the crosswalk, he said.

The children were not near the crosswalk when they ran across the street Friday morning, Zienowicz said, prompting him to issue a safety warning to parents of school-aged children as they walk to bus stops and school.

"We encourage and implore any parent or guardian walking their children to school to please utilize crosswalks and crossing guards when they are present," Zienowicz said.

This entry was first published at 8:26 a.m. and was updated at 11:41 a.m.

Craig Shacklock was sentenced Friday to 92 months in federal prison.

The 52-year-old Providence man pleaded guilty in August to robbing a teller at a Citizens Bank branch in Providence in January and attempting to rob a different bank in the city earlier in the day.

Prosecutors say Shacklock stole $8,150. Police arrested Shacklock after recognizing him from a description that had been broadcast.