WPD: Brick Vandal Cratered Car Windshield June 15

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police arrested a man after the brick vandal threw smashed a car windshield and damaged Planet Fitness windows on Bald Hill Road June 15 at 5:30 a.m.

Officer Anthony Meola and two other officers were called that morning to the Planet Fitness lot, 650 Bald Hill Road, following a report from a man had thrown a brick through the windshield of his blue 2008 Toyota Prius.

Officer Derek Hagopian found the driver reporting the attack in the Kohs’s parking lot, barefoot, wiping glass shards off his feet. He said he wasn’t injured.

According to Hagopian’s report, the man drove away from the site of the attack because the attacker was coming at him with another brick. So, he said, he drove into the Kohl’s parking lot to wait for police.

Hagopian noted the force of the brick had cratered the Prius windshield, with a portion of the brick penetrating the glass, making a small hole. Small shards of glass were scattered across the hood, dashboard, floor and driver’s seat. There were also parts of brick stuck in the windshield. Some of the glass had gotten into the driver’s shoes as well, according to the report.

Officers located the brick vandal, identifying him as Matthew Saygbah, 37, of Providence, RI, with no permanent address. When police found him, he was running near Chuck E. Cheese, next to the Wendy’s lot.

Meola reported that when he stopped his cruiser near Saygbah and asked him to stop, the man threw a cup of water and some clothing to the ground. The officer told him to stay where he was but Saygbah held his hands in front of him and told the officer, “take me to jail,” according to the report. When Meola asked what had happened, Saygbah repeated, “take me to jail.”

Meola and Officer Michael Rosa detained Saygbah and escorted the driver who reported the vandalism to identify him, which the victim did.

Brick vandal also damaged Planet Fitness windows

A witness also in the lot at the time gave a verbal statement to the officers that Saygbah had also thrown a brick at windows in the Planet Fitness storefront. Hagopian found a brick directly in front of one window, which had been scuffed by an apparent impact, with red marks, and found similar damage to another window, according to the report. Hagopian later contacted Planet Fitness, whose representative said they wanted to press charges.

Meola transported Saygbah to WPD headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he was charged with Vandalism/Malicious Injury to Property and Disorderly Conduct.

Saygbah was arraigned in Third District Court June 16 and is scheduled for a competency hearing Aug. 7. He was released on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond and a $3,000 surety bond pending a competency evaluation.