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UNDERCOVER STING LEADS TO ARREST OF
TWO RHODE ISLAND MEN
ON AUGUST 1, 2003 MEMBERS OF THE FRANKLIN POLICE DETECTIVE DIVISION ALONG WITH UNIFORMED PATROL OFFICERS SET UP A SURVEILLANCE AT THE OWENS AND MINOR BUILDING #135 CONSTITUTION BOULEVARD, FRANKLIN. FRANKLIN DETECTIVES HAD BEEN WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH SECURITY PERSONNEL FROM OWENS AND MINOR RELATIVE TO THE ONGOING THEFTS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF MERCHANDISE OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FROM THE FRANKLIN FACILITY. OWENS AND MINOR IS A SUPPLIER AND STORAGE FACILITY FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONGOING THEFTS FRANKLIN DETECTIVE PERSONNEL HAD BEEN CONDUCTING PERIODIC SURVEILLANCES OF THE OWENS AND MINOR FACILITY. IN THE LATE EVENING HOURS OF AUGUST 1 SURVEILLANCE OFFICERS OBSERVED A WHITE FORD ECONOLINE VAN WITH TWO OCCUPANTS PULL INTO THE LOADING DOCK AREA OF OWENS AND MINOR. THE LOADING DOCK WAS ACCESSED AND THE VAN DROVE INTO THE BUILDING. SHORTLY AFTER A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL EXITED THE BUILDING ON FOOT CHECKING THE IMMEDIATE AREA AROUND THE LOADING DOCKS. SURVEILLANCE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS UTILIZING A WIRELESS RADIO FOR COMMUNICATION. AFTER THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS SATISFIED THE AREA WAS SECURE, THE VAN PULLED OUT OF THE BUILDING, DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND PICKED UP THE FIRST PERSON WHO HAD LEFT.
AT THIS POINT THE SURVEILLANCE TEAM AND UNIFORMED FRANKLIN PATROL OFFICERS MOVED IN TO AFFECT A STOP OF THE SUSPECTS. SPOTTING THE APPROACHING UNITS THE VAN SPED OFF. THE PASSENGER JUMPED FROM THE VAN AND FLED ON FOOT INTO THE WOODS, THE VAN CONTINUED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ½ TO ¾ OF A MILE BEFORE LOOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING OFF INTO THE TREES. THE DRIVER OF THE VAN SUFFERED A NUMBER OF INJURIES AND WAS PINNED IN THE VAN UNTIL FRANKLIN FIRE PERSONNEL COULD FREE HIM. HE IS IDENTIFIED AS ABOU M. MBODJ, 31 YEARS OLD FROM 901 BERNON STREET, WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND. ABOU WAS TAKEN TO UMASS MEDICAL CENTER IN WORCESTER FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES.
THE SUSPECT WHO FLED ON FOOT WAS APPREHENDED IN A WOODED AREA NOT FAR FROM THE CRASH SCENE. HE IS IDENTIFIED AS JAMES R. LAPERLE, AGE 33 OF 400 NEW RIVER ROAD IN MANVILLE, RHODE ISLAND.
THE VAN WAS LOADED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WITH CARDBOARD BOXED ITEMS. OWENS AND MINOR PERSONNEL IDENTIFIED THE BOXED ITEMS AS HAVING COME FROM STOCKED SUPPLIES IN THE FRANKLIN FACILITY. A VALUE OF $225,000.00 WAS PLACED ON THIS MERCHANDISE WHICH CONSISTED ON PAPER TEST STRIPS USED BY DIABETIC PATIENTS.
NO INJURIES WERE SUFFERED BY RESPONDING FRANKLIN UNITS. ALL RESPONDING OFFICERS ACTED IN AN EFFICIENT AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER TAKING IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BRINGING IT TO AN END QUICKLY AND SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE ARRESTS OF LAPERLE AND MBODJ ALONG WITH RECOVERING ALL OF THE STOLEN MERCHANDISE FROM THIS EVENING.
THE VAN USED IN THE THEFT WAS TOWED TO THE FRANKLIN POLICE STATION FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE VAN IS COMPLETELY WRECKED. LAPERLE IS BEING HELD IN LIEU OF $50,000.00 BAIL AT THE FRANKLIN STATION FOR HIS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGE AT THE WRENTHAM DISTRICT COURT.
JAMES LAPERLE WAS ARRESTED AT THE SCENE AND CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING, BREAKING AND ENTERING IN THE NIGHTTIME WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A FELONY, LARCENY FROM A BUILDING, LARCENY OVER $250.00, RESISTING ARREST AND CONSPIRACY.
BECAUSE OF ABOU MBODJ HAVING TO BE TRANSPORTED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT , COMPLAINTS WILL BE FILED AND WARRANTS REQUESTED CHARGING HIM WITH TRESPASSING, BREAKING AND ENTERING IN THE NIGHTTIME WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A FELONY, LARCENY FROM A BUILDING, LARCENY OVER $250.00 AND CONSPIRACY. MOTOR VEHICLE CHARGES OF FAILING TO STOP FOR A POLICE OFFICER, SPEEDING, DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE SO AS TO ENDANGER THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, FAILING TO STAY WITHIN MARKED LANES AND FAILURE TO KEEP TO THE RIGHT WILL ALSO BE TAKEN.
STEPHAN H. SEMERJIAN
DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT