Police Log: Man Kills Attacking Fox, ID Theft, Marijuana Found in Park

FUNNY MONEY
East Greenwich Police are investigating a report of counterfeit money that was passed at Richard’s Pub on March 18.

Police said a man and woman came into the bar, ordered two drinks, and paid with a $100 bill before leaving.

The bill didn’t’ feel right, police said, and a bank teller identified the bill as counterfeit a short time later.

The female suspect didn’t appear of age and she was asked to sign the underage minor book at the bar. Police said her handwriting was unreadable, but a New York ID was used and that appeared to be forged as well.

Police are investigating.

MAN KILLS FOX
A Shady Hill Drive resident called police on March 19 and said he killed a fox that was attacking his three-year-old basset hound.

Police said the dog was outside and leashed up when the fox started chasing the dog.

The man grabbed a snow shovel, police said, and hit the fox with the shovel. The fox continued to be aggressive and the man continued to hit the fox until it was dead.

Nobody was hurt in the incident (besides the fox) and the dog has been vaccinated against rabies, police said.

Police contacted the state Department of Environmental Management, who said the fox could be disposed of in a bag.

Because the fox did not make contact with anyone, the dog was not required to be put in quarantine.

FIRE TRUCK DAMAGED
East Greenwich Police took a report from the East Greenwich Fire Department on March 18 after a firefighter accidentally backed a fire truck into the side of the far northern garage bay at Station 1.

Police said a small chunk of brick came off the wall and a small corner cap was cracked on Engine 3.

The corner cap would cost about $75 to replace.

ID FRAUD
A Woodland Road resident reported to police on Sunday that someone filed a fraudulent federal tax return in his name.

Police said the man’s wife attempted to e-file their tax return on March 11 but they received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service that it was rejected because it had already been filed.

A letter dated Feb. 25 arrived in the mail telling the residents that their tax return was being processed.

The IRS fraud department was contacted and the investigation is ongoing.

On March 19, police were contacted by a Squirrel Lane resident who told police that he got a letter from the IRS on March 11 informing him he was the victim of identity fraud.

Police said the man had already taken the necessary actions to open a case with the IRS fraud department. 

ATTEMPTED B&E
Police responded to Shotokan Karate and Kick Box on Main Street on March 18 for a report of an attempted breaking and entering.

Police said they saw that someone attempted to get inside by prying at the front door and lock with an unknown tool.

The suspect reportedly was unable to get inside and nothing was stolen from the business.

Police are investigating.

SCOOTER MISSING
A Razor scooter disappeared from the gate at Hannaford school on Friday, police said.

Police were contacted by a Phillips Road woman who said her son’s scooter was left at the gate in the morning and it was gone by dismissal time.

It’s a silver Razor scooter with black grips.

FOUND MARIJUANA
A local man brought a prescription bottle with 4 grams of marijuana inside to police headquarters on Friday, telling police that it was found at Fairfield Park.

Police said the bottle was found by juvenile, who ran home and gave it to her father, who then brought it to police. 

STRANGE CALLS
A High Hawk Road resident told police on March 18 that she has been getting strange phone calls from several numbers by people who have foreign accents.

The callers told the woman the she and her husband are under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Unit but when she asked what the charges are, they would get vague and tell her she’d be contacted at a later date.

The woman told police she never gave any personal information over the phone.

Police are investigating.

TAN BAN
A 60-year-old Hopkinton man is no longer welcome at Exotic Tans on Division Street.

Police said the man was the subject of a shoplifting complaint after the store manager realized a $5 packet of tanning oil was missing from behind the counter.

A review of security footage showed the man reach behind the counter and take the oil when nobody was looking.

The manager said she just wanted the $5 for the oil and a no trespass order issued. She declined to press charges.

Police complied and told the man to no longer come back to Exotic Tans.

WOMAN RETURNS FENCE PARTS
A 43-year-old Warwick woman returned parts of a broken fence along South Country Trail after police said she was caught taking bits and pieces of it.

The woman was not charged because she was very apologetic, police said, and admitted to taking parts of the fence on more than one occasion because she uses the wood to build crates and pallets.

The fence, located in front of 2153 South County Trail, had apparently been damaged about five months ago.

The woman said she thought the fence was unwanted because it had been broken for so long.

But the property owner told police that he didn’t want to press charges as long as the woman returned all the pieces she had taken, but he did request a no-trespass order.

Police considered the matter resolved at that point.

WARRANT
Police charged Kristen Santos, 22, of 49 Second St., Newport, with a warrant March 18 at 10:31 p.m. Police said they caught up to Santos after she was seen driving on Post Road above the 25 mph speed limit.

A check of her information showed she had an active bench warrant for failing to appear for arraignment.

She was taken into custody without incident.