SCITUATE -- A suspect didn't capture any Olympic medals last week when he bolted from three police officers, but he did win 90 days in the Adult Correctional Institutions for his actions.

Christopher Paolissi, 32, of 96 Foster Center Rd., Foster, pleaded no contest to charges of assaulting police officers and resisting arrest after his abortive bid for freedom on Aug. 15.

Lt. Stephen B. Lang, of the Scituate police, said that the incident began when Sgt. Brian Sedgley stopped a car on Danielson Pike about 8:30 p.m. because it lacked a front license plate.

Sedgley issued tickets to the driver, Peter Cannavo, 24, of Lake Washington Drive, Chepachet, for the license plate violation and for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Paolissi was a passenger. When Sedgley checked his identification, Lang said, the officer learned that Paolissi was wanted on a District Court warrant charging him with failing to appear in court for a review of restitution in a credit-card case originally brought by West Warwick police.

About this time, Lang related, Scituate Patrolman Keith Yeaw drove up, as did a state trooper -- Sedgley had halted the car in front of state police headquarters.

"So Brian tells Christopher there is a warrant out for him," Lang said. "He says, 'I'm wanted?' Brian says, 'Yes.' And he runs away."

The chase was not an extended one.

"It wasn't a long foot chase," said Lang. "The three guys were standing there with him when he bolted."

Paolissi got as far as the Esek Hopkins playground across Danielson Pike when first Sedgley and then the other officers caught up.

"Christopher proceeds to kick and punch Brian," Lang said. "It takes all three officers to subdue him and get handcuffs on him. Luckily nobody was injured."

With the charges of resisting arrest and assault on the police added to the original warrant, a bail commissioner ordered Paolissi held at the Adult Correctional Institutions pending his arraignment the next day.

Lang was in court the next day when Paolissi was brought in.

The suspect was sentenced to a year at the ACI, with 90 days to serve, and nine months of probation. In addition, he was ordered to pay court costs on the two new counts.

In another case, this one on Saturday evening, Patrolman Jason Riquier said he stopped a car on Danielson Pike near Chopmist Hill Road because it was speeding.

The driver, Adrianna Croce, 18, of 465 Smithfield Ave., Pawtucket, had an expired license, Lang said.

Riquier asked a passenger, George M. Carriere, 20, of 36 Danielson Pike, Scituate, to step from the car, and reported finding marijuana when he searched the man. He said that Carriere was wanted on a District Court warrant charging him with failing to pay court costs and fines in a marijuana-possession case brought by Smithfield police.

That led to a search of the car, which uncovered suspected cocaine in a plastic sandwich bag, Lang said.

The driver was charged with speeding, driving on an expired license, and felony possession of cocaine.

Carriere was charged with felony possession of marijuana because it was a second offense, Lang said.

Bail Commissioner Steven Peltier released them pending Superior Court appearances on Oct. 30.

tmorgan 7488