NORTH SMITHFIELD – A near-accident in the parking lot of Walmart in North Smithfield led to the arrest of a Pawtucket man after he allegedly threatened the parties in the other vehicle with a knife.
John Emmanuel Lopes, 24, of Pawtucket, is facing disorderly conduct and weapons charges following the incident on Sunday, March 22.
According to reports, North Smithfield police responded to a call for a car leaving the scene of an accident at the Dowling Village store. The reporting party said he was following the vehicle that hit him southbound on Eddie Dowling Highway.
The officer headed to the scene notes that he was driving on the northbound side of the highway when he saw both vehicles involved – a 2000 Toyota Solara and a 2006 GMC Sierra – take a turnaround at a fast rate of speeding with tires screeching. He pulled over the vehicles and occupants from both got out and began yelling at each other.
According to reports from both parties, the incident started when the driver of the GMC truck pulled into the parking lot of the store. The Solara, driven by a 20-year-old female from Woonsocket, nearly hit the truck, but the other driver ignored the incident, found a parking space at the back of the lot, and proceeded toward the store.
As the driver and his passenger walked toward entrance, the Solara reportedly pulled alongside them and Lopes, the passenger, began swearing and yelling. Lopes then opened the door as though he was exiting the vehicle and pulled out a knife, threatening the prior occupants of the truck as they were attempting to go shopping.
While trying to leave the scene, the driver of the Solara reportedly struck the passenger from the GMC as she backed up to drive away. The truck occupants then followed the car, attempting to stop it from leaving, before both parties ended up on the highway.
Lopes was released with a 3rd district court summons and has a hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 30.
