Man held in sexual assault of patient

WARWICK — A former nursing assistant charged with sexually assaulting a mentally disabled patient in his care was ordered held without bail Friday.

Matthew F. Doyle, 24, of West Greenwich, was arrested July 31 after a nursing home administrator at St. Elizabeth Home in East Greenwich reported the alleged abuse to the police.

The judge at the Kent County Superior Court arraignment also ordered Doyle to have no contact with his alleged victim, a 69-year-old woman with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

Doyle’s bail hearing is set for Oct. 16.

The St. Elizabeth Home, which serves 120 residents, is among four nursing-home facilities in Rhode Island run by the St. Elizabeth Community, based in Providence. The nonprofit, nonsectarian organization has been in existence since 1882.

Doyle is accused of assaulting the woman on July 28.

A grand jury handed up an indictment charging Doyle with two counts of first-degree sexual assault. He has been held at the Adult Correctional Institutions since his arrest.

— Mike McKinney

Two men arrested in Swansea break-in

SWANSEA — Two Fall River men were arrested for allegedly stealing cash and several books of lottery tickets from a Swansea convenience store.

Brenden Pavao, 21, of 117 Arizona St., and Christopher Gregory, 19, of 140 Smithies St., allegedly broke into the Citgo station at 737 GAR Highway (Route 6) in Swansea sometime late Wednesday night by breaking a garage door window, the Swansea police said in a statement. The break-in was reported to the police early Thursday.

Later that morning, the police received a call from the Massachusetts Lottery Commission, which reported that a man had presented some of the stolen lottery tickets at Zim’s Variety at 1884 Pleasant St., in Fall River. Swansea and Fall River authorities reviewed surveillance tape of the incident and recognized Pavao.

At about 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Fall River police Officer Adam Katz spotted Pavao driving a car on Eastern Avenue and stopped him. Pavao had the cash in his pocket and a trash bag filled with lottery tickets in his car trunk, the police said.

Pavao, and later Gregory, were both arrested and charged with larceny and breaking and entering at night with intent to commit a felony.

— Meaghan Wims

Woman arrested in stabbing of boyfriend

NORTH KINGSTOWN — A 39-year-old woman was arrested Thursday for allegedly holding a knife to her boyfriend’s throat, then stabbing him in the back “to get his attention,” the police said.

Delores Ann Ford, of 300 Newcomb Rd., was charged with one count of domestic felony assault and two counts of domestic disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

According to the police, Ford said she and her partner, David G. Stoll, 40, got into an argument over a mutual friend. Ford told the police that Stoll would not leave her alone, so she grabbed a steak knife and held it to Stoll’s throat, drawing blood. Ford then stabbed Stoll in the lower back. She told the police she didn’t want to kill him but “wanted to get his attention.”

Stoll, who asked the police to release Ford, was treated at South County Hospital.

— Paul Davis

Residents honored for lifesaving efforts

PROVIDENCE — They braved fire, explosions and water to save lives and now they’re being honored for their heroics.

Six Rhode Islanders gathered at the State House Thursday to receive accolades from Governor Carcieri and Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.

They were among seven awarded the Lifesaving Medal, a state honor recognizing the heroism of firefighters, police officers and citizens who step in to help in times of crisis.

The State Room ceremony saluted the following:

West Greenwich police Officer Donald Farvala: for pulling a woman out of a blazing car moments before it exploded following a July 7 car accident.

Stephen and Joshua Zasowski, of Bristol; Sherry Sherman, of Charlestown; and Albert Dinwoodie, of Westerly: for saving a drowning man at Burlingame State Park in Charlestown on Aug. 17.

Rhode Island state Troopers Michael Rosa and Matthew Salisbury: for helping rescue three Cranston families when a blaze tore through their building on May 29.

— Journal staff