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Police: Portsmouth man set fire to woman’s belongings

Posted 8/26/20

PORTSMOUTH — A 37-year-old local man was arrested Saturday, Aug. 22, after he allegedly set fire to a woman’s belongings in his backyard.

According to police, Timothy M. Leisge, …

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Police: Portsmouth man set fire to woman’s belongings

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — A 37-year-old local man was arrested Saturday, Aug. 22, after he allegedly set fire to a woman’s belongings in his backyard.

According to police, Timothy M. Leisge, of 76 Redwood Road, also lunged at and attempted to grab the woman, a 26-year-old from Portsmouth, after she confronted him.

Police went to the home around 1 p.m. to locate Mr. Leisge, who was wanted on a 24-hour domestic pickup. He was charged with domestic arson (fourth degree) and domestic assault and was taken into custody without incident.

Here are some recent highlights from the Portsmouth Police reports:

Friday, Aug. 14

Angelo F. Grilli, 57, of 105 Heidi Drive, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after he was pulled over for multiple moving violations on East Main Road just before 11 p.m. Police also cited him for refusing to submit to a chemical test.

Saturday, Aug. 15

Earl G. Skidds III, 38, of 461 Hubbard Road, Berwick, Maine, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after being stopped on West Main Road at Bradford Avenue shortly after midnight for multiple moving violations. 

Akin H. Francis, 26, of 109 Van Zandt Ave., Newport, was arrested on a warrant after he was pulled over a traffic violation on West Main Road at Twin Lanterns around 12:15 a.m.

Eric J. Wedekind, 33, of 173 Cherry Hill Drive, Seekonk, was charged with domestic cyberstalking at about 3:20 p.m. According to police, Mr. Wedekind continued to send text messages to a 27-year-old Portsmouth woman after being told to stop. A warrant was issued for Mr. Wedekind’s arrest and he later turned himself in at police headquarters, police said.

Sunday, Aug. 16

Heismen Edouard, 22, of 45 Pearl Ave., North Providence, was arrested on a 2nd District Court bench warrant  after being pulled over for a traffic violation on West Main Road at Turkey Hill around 1:20 a.m. He was also cited for driving with an active license (second offense).

Blake A. Anderson, 34, of 40 Jean St. Apt. A, Middletown, was charged with violating a no-contact order after the vehicle he was in was stopped for speeding on Route 24 at Sprague Street shortly before 9:30 p.m. Police said a 23-year-old female from Middletown, who had an active protective order against Mr. Anderson, was also in the vehicle.

Monday, Aug. 17

Danielle L. Unger, 33, of 2701 East Main Road, was charged with domestic assault after police responded to her home just before 6 p.m. after receiving a call for service. According to police, Ms. Unger was the “primary aggressor in a verbal argument” with a 32-year-old Portsmouth woman that became physical. Police also determined she had an active Superior Court bench warrant.

John T. Dwyer, 50, of 18 Ethel Drive, was charged with domestic disorderly conduct at about 5:15 p.m. at police headquarters in connection with an incident that took place earlier in the day, according to police. 

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Michael A. Bail, 24, of 172 Old North Road Kingston, was cited for driving without an active license after being pulled over for a traffic violation on West Main Road at Raytheon around 7:35 a.m.

Kelly M. Browning, 31, of 67 Ruggles St., Providence, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant after her vehicle was stopped for an equipment violation on West Main Road around 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Jennifer L. King, 46, of 11 J.H. Dwyer Road, Middletown, was charged with driving while intoxicated (third and subsequent offense) after being stopped for speeding on West Main Road at Redwood Road just before 1 a.m.

Matthew S. Polce, 31, of 19 Sisson St., Second Floor, Apt. B, Warren, was cited for driving without an active license (first offense) after being pulled over for a traffic violation on West Main Road at Turkey Hill around 7:25 a.m.

James T. Souza, 47, of 335 Broad St., Cumberland, was arrested on a warrant after being puled over for a traffic violation on West Main Road at Turkey Hill around 11:30 a.m.

James T. Souza, 47, of 335 Broad St., Cumberland, was arrested on a Central Falls warrant after being pulled over for a traffic violation on West Main Road at King Charles Drive around 11:45 a.m.

Klaudia R. Oliveira, 22, of 109 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, was charged with violating a protective order following an investigation by police. A warrant was issued and Ms. Oliveira turned herself in at police headquarters at about 5:10 p.m. According to police, the alleged victim was a 28-year-old Portsmouth man.

Friday, Aug. 21

Robert K. Ferreira, 48, of 95 Taylor Drive, Rumford, was arrested on a full bench warrant from Superior Court as well as a bench warrant from 3rd District Court, after being stopped for a traffic violation on West Main Road at Turkey Hill around 8:30 a.m. He was also cited for driving with an inactive license, his third offense.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Christine Costa, 53, of 73 Jepson St., Apt. 2, Fall River, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after being pulled over for multiple moving violations on West Main Road at Raytheon around 12:45 a.m. Police also cited her for refusing a chemical test. 

Sunday, Aug. 23

Devon Gomes, 26, of 2787 East Main Road, was charged with domestic felony assault with a dangerous weapon after police responded to a 911 call at 2749 East Main Road around 12:30 a.m. The caller told police Mr. Gomes was inside her residence, threatening people with a knife in a “stabbing” motion, and causing a minor cut upon a 30-year-old woman’s face. He then moved toward the victim in an attempt to deliver more blows with the knife, according to police. 

Corey J. Medeiros, 31, of 35 Ventura Lane, New Bedford, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) following a motor vehicle accident at 470 Park Ave. around 2:50 a.m. According to police, Mr. Medeiros was asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle when they arrived. He had driven his vehicle into a car parked on the side of the road, then fell asleep with his vehicle still in gear, according to police. He was also cited for driving without an active license and refusing to submit to a chemical test.

Jessica M. Correia, 46, of 315 Mishnock Road, West Greenwich, was charged with driving while intoxicated, resulting in serious bodily injury, following an accident that took place on West Main Road at Mail Coach Road shortly before 5 p.m. Police said Ms. Correia’s vehicle had collided with a motorcycle driven by a man who was injured.

Keith Macwhorter, 64, of 6 Willow Way, Rehoboth, Mass., was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after his disabled vehicle was found on Hummock Avenue around 6 p.m. Police said the vehicle showed damage to its front passenger side and had been abandoned in the lane of travel. Mr. Macwhorter later approached the scene, and he exhibited signs of intoxication, according to police, who also cited him for refusing a chemical test.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.