Contact: Captain Michael J. Winquist, Detective Commander, Telephone: (401) 444-1008
Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, announced today that members of the Rhode Island State Police Detective Bureau arrested a West Greenwich public safety dispatcher for stealing money from the West Greenwich Police evidence room.
On May 7, 2012, members of the State Police Hope Valley Barracks were contacted by West Greenwich Acting Police Chief, Craig Barone, to advise that he learned money was missing from their evidence room. Acting Chief Barone requested that the State Police conduct an investigation.
Members of the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit learned that on April 19, 2012, a citizen responded to the police department to turn in $8,000 in United States currency and other personal items belonging to a local West Greenwich resident. The officer receiving the found property entered it into the West Greenwich evidence room. On April 23, 2012, Acting Chief Barone and a third officer re-counted the money and secured the currency in the evidence room. On May 7, 2012, the rightful owner of the money responded to the West Greenwich Police Department to retrieve the property. When an officer responded to the evidence room, he determined the money was missing from the evidence room.
Members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit seized and examined two computer hard drives that were utilized to record several surveillance cameras inside the police department, to include a camera recording the door leading into the evidence room. A forensic analysis of the surveillance system was conducted by members of the Rhode Island State Police. As a result of this, Raymond Tarbox, a dispatcher for the Police Department, was identified as a suspect.
On May 11, 2012, Mr. Tarbox was interviewed by detectives at State Police Headquarters. Mr. Tarbox initially denied taking the money, but when questioned further, admitted to turning off the video recorder and accessing the evidence room by climbing through a small crawl space inside a cabinet in an adjacent office. After taking the money, he turned the recorder back on and made a notation on the dispatch log the recording device had malfunctioned.
Raymond Tarbox, age 33, of 9 Grant Drive, Coventry, Rhode Island was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace on one count of Larceny over $500 and released on $5,000 personal recognizance. Mr. Tarbox is scheduled to appear in Kent County Superior Court to answer to the charges.
Acting Chief Barone thanked the State Police for a prompt and thorough investigation at his request and expressed disappointment that a town employee would steal property entrusted to the police department. He will continue to monitor the case as it continues through the judicial process.
Colonel O'Donnell stated, "Acting Police Chief Barone engaged our services, which led to a brief investigation and the arrest of the person responsible. I will continue to work with the Chief Barone and the West Greenwich Police Department regarding best practices regarding evidence rooms."