NORTH SMITHFIELD – A North Smithfield man was arrested last month and ordered not to visit Walmart for two years following an alleged assault on an 80-year-old man.
Joshua Laliberte, 41, of Hanton Road, North Smithfield was charged with felony assault on a person over age 60 causing bodily injury and misdemeanor disorderly conduct following the incident on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
According to the arrest report, police responded to the Dowling Village store for a report of a disturbance, and the victim told police he was operating a motorized scooter, but was unable to get past two kids playing in an aisle. The 80-year-old man told officers he said, “heads up and watch out,” to the kids in attempt to pass.
He said the mother of the children responded to him by saying, “they are not your kids, don’t be telling them what to do,” to which he replied, “just control your kids.”
As the victim turned around to go down another aisle he told police a male – later identified as Laliberte – approached him and began to yell and scream at him saying, “mind your business,” and “what do you want from those kids?”
The victim said he turned around to leave, but Laliberte continued yelling, then bumped his body against the motorized scooter twice and threw an object at the man’s chest. Laliberte then exited the store, and a security guard was able to get his license plate.
Store security footage backed up much of the victim’s story, and he said he wished to press charges. The store manager told police she wanted Laliberte to have a no trespass order at the store for two years.
Laliberte was released with a 3rd District Court summons. He was arraigned and is due back in court on Friday, May 3.
