Fatal shooting called drug-related

WOONSOCKET — The police are investigating the Sunday shooting death of a 22-year-old Woonsocket man.

The police say preliminary reports indicate that the shooting is drug-related and not a random act.

The police responded to a call around midnight of a reported robbery at 425 Diamond Hill Rd. and found Robert Jones shot in his third-floor apartment.

Jones was transported to Landmark Medical Center, in Woonsocket, where he was later pronounced dead, the police said.

The police declined to give any more details of the shooting.

The police are asking anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the incident, or have information regarding the case, to contact Woonsocket Police Detectives Sgt. Matthew Ryan and or Sgt. Marc Cardin at 766-1212.

— Tatiana Pina

Man injured weeks-old daughter, police say

PAWTUCKET — The father of a 20-day-old baby girl was charged with first-degree child abuse in District Court yesterday after the infant was hospitalized with serious head trauma that included a fractured skull and facial injuries, according to the police.

Michael Patriquin, 23, of Malvern Street in Pawtucket, was charged with first-degree child abuse. He was ordered held on $100,000 bail, according to a press release.

Pawtucket police charged Patriquin after they were called to Hasbro Children’s Hospital Saturday for a report of possible child abuse. The baby, born Oct. 8, is in serious but stable condition at Hasbro and was released from the intensive care unit yesterday, according to Detective Sgt. Cory Jackson.

Jackson said the baby is expected to recover from her injuries.

Patriquin lives on Malvern Street with a girlfriend who is the mother of the infant and a 2-year-old daughter. The Department of Children, Youth and Families has taken custody of the 2-year-old girl, the police said.

Patriquin is a private first class with the Rhode Island Army National Guard, 56th Troop Command, according to Lt. Col. Denis Riel, public affairs officer for the Guard.

He’s been a part-time guard member for about a year, Riel said. Patriquin notified the National Guard of the criminal charge and his arrest, Riel said.

“He will be placed on very limited duty,” he said.

A military judge adjutant general will review Patriquin’s case and determine what duties he could perform, if any, while the case is pending, Riel said.

— Tatiana Pina and Timothy C. Barmann

2 men stabbed in Central Falls fracas

CENTRAL FALLS — Two men were stabbed early Sunday during an apparent altercation as people were leaving El Chapin Restaurant, according to the police.

Jose Figueroa, 28, of 70 Spring St., Marlboro, Mass., and Melvin Calderon, 26, of Cross Street, Central Falls, were taken to Rhode Island Hospital. Figueroa suffered a puncture wound to a lung, according to Police Chief Joseph Moran. He was in fair condition, Moran said. Calderon received a stab wound to his arm.

The incident occurred around 1:16 a.m. as people were leaving the restaurant bar at the corner of Dexter and Rand streets.

The police said they are investigating a possible connection between the stabbing and a car filled with people that was seen in the vicinity, Moran said. No weapons were recovered, he said.

— Tatiana Pina

Bail set in theft of officer’s gun

PORTSMOUTH — District Court Judge Stephen P. Erickson, sitting in Newport, yesterday set bail at $10,000 for a man accused of stealing a Little Compton police officer’s weapon and other gear.

It could not be determined immediately whether Kyle Atkinson, 18, of 208 Water St., had posted bail. Atkinson was charged with receiving a stolen firearm, conspiracy to steal a firearm and a felony count of receiving stolen goods. The other charges also are felonies.

Atkinson was to return to court today to face proceedings from a previous case, one in March where he was charged with a misdemeanor count of larceny. The court in that case set the charge aside for a year, meaning that it would have been dismissed and Atkinson’s record would have remained clear had he remained out of trouble with the law during that period.

The weapon and other equipment were stolen in Portsmouth from the pickup truck of an off-duty Little Compton police officer last week.

The gun and the other items have been recovered, the police said. No details were given on how or where they were found.

Also charged was Kristen Shaw, 18, also of Portsmouth. She was accused of obstructing a police officer and conspiracy to commit larceny under $500, both misdemeanors. She was released and will appear in court at a later date.

Two Portsmouth boys also were arrested in the theft. A 17-year-old was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny (a felony), and conspiracy to commit larceny (a misdemeanor). The other suspect, 15, was charged with larceny of a firearm, conspiracy to commit larceny of a firearm, larceny over $500, and receiving stolen goods under $500.

Last week, the Portsmouth police reported that the gun and several other items, including a police baton, handcuffs, ammunition, a badge, two uniforms and a bulletproof vest, were stolen from the officer’s truck.

The police said the theft occurred on Tuesday at about 5 p.m. The unlocked truck was parked in the officer’s driveway. The police have not identified the officer.

The officer was placed on administrative duty following the incident, standard procedure under department rules. The police referred a call this morning on the officer’s status to Chief Sidney Wordell, who was not available for comment.

— Thomas J. Morgan and Maria Armental

Pair sentenced in pharmacy scam

CENTRAL FALLS — Two men who concocted an elaborate scheme to steal from Rite Aid stores in New England received suspended sentences last week.

According to Capt. Kevin Guindon, the men collected discarded receipts from the garbage at Rite Aid drugstores. One of them would go to a Rite Aid store and steal the items add listed on the receipt. The other would go to another Rite Aid store with a found receipt and a bag of stolen items to return for money.

The police said a worker from Rite Aid reported that two men had been detained in the store on Broad Street and Cottage in Central Falls. The police said they found drugstore items in the car and had a list of Rite Aid stores in New England with some circled.

The motivation for the thefts appeared to be a drug habit, Guindon said. Both men were hooked on the pain killer OxyContin, he said.

Co Vo, 30, of 138 Utica St., Quincy, Mass., and Jonathan Goodwin, 22, of 35 Garfield St., Weymouth, Mass., were both charged in District Court, Providence, last Wednesday with receiving stolen goods, obtaining money under false pretenses, shoplifting and conspiracy, Guindon said.

Goodwin was also charged with being in possession of a weapon other than a firearm. The police said they found a baton in the car that belonged to him. Guindon said the men received one year’s probation, and a one-year suspended sentence and were ordered to make restitution.

— Tatiana Pina