A Somerset man arrested by Westport police last fall in connection with a Tiverton break-in and alleged assault of two people who caught him in the act, turned himself in to police in Tiverton last Thursday, March 31, and faces a host of charges out of Tiverton, Newport and Middletown.

Jay M. Oliveira, 44,  was arraigned Friday on Tiverton charges of breaking and entering of a dwelling when a resident is on the premises, and two counts of assault with intent to commit specified felonies. He also faces unrelated Newport charges of attempted breaking and entering, two counts of larceny under $1,500 and injuring or tampering with vehicles, and Middletown charges including passing fraudulent checks under $1,500. He was also arraigned on a Newport Superior Court bench warrant.

For the Tiverton charges, bail was set at $50,000 with surety, and he is due for his next court appearance in July.

The charges stem from an incident on Tiverton's Seapowet Avenue reported on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. Tiverton police received a call about a breaking and entering that was interrupted by a family member of the homeowner, who told them that as she drove by the vacant home, she noticed a black Dodge Ram pickup unknown to her parked in the driveway and saw that a side door to the home was open.

She stopped to investigate and reported that upon entering the house, she found Oliveira rummaging a jewelry box in a bedroom. She confronted him, "at which time he threw the jewelry box at her, hitting her in the head," police said.

She ran out of the bedroom, and reported that as she fled Oliveira threw a glass candle at her. As she attempted to prevent him from leaving, "he grabbed her and pulled her away from the front door."

A second witness, another family member, was called to the scene by the first witness. When she arrived, she saw Oliveira leaving the house through the front door.

"She confronted (Oliveira) in the driveway (and) he lunged at her" before getting into his pickup and driving at both witnesses, nearly striking them. The second witness noted the license plate number and handed it over to police.

Officers advised surrounding communities to keep a lookout for the truck, and a short time later Westport police pulled Oliveira over in their town. Tiverton police drove one of the witnesses to the scene, "at which time she was able to positively identify the male as the person who was inside the family member's home."

Westport police took Oliveira into custody, and he was arraigned in Fall River District Court and released on bail with the promise to turn himself in to Rhode Island authorities. He never did.

Tiverton police, with assistance from the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, spent the next several months attempting to locate and apprehend Oliveira, Tiverton police said. Finally arrangements were made for him to turn himself in to Tiverton police on Thursday, March 31, and when he did he was taken to Newport District Court for arraignment.

Tiverton police said thanks are due to Westport police, Somerset police, and the task force for their assistance.