WPD Arrests Woman Sleeping in Stolen Acura Jan. 23

WARWICK, RI — Warwick officers were called to Dollar Tree, 1800 Post Road at 12:32 a.m. Jan. 23 for a report of a woman slumped over the wheel of a running, stolen, black Acura, who was found to be wanted on three Superior Court warrants.

When Sgt. Steven Major woke the woman enough to get her to unlock her car and answer questions, she told them she was from Providence, that she had ingested Fentanyl, about one gram. She said she’s a daily user of the drug, according to Officer Aaron Steere’s report, and that she had snorted the substance.

The woman, later identified as Marlene Espinal, 25, 228 Narragansett Ave., Providence, was administered Narcan for a possible overdose, then transported to Kent Hospital for an evaluation. Steere learned the woman was wanted on three Superior Court warrants, and that the car had been reported stolen. The car was towed from the scene by Christian’s Towing, and Espinal was transported to Kent for an evaluation.

At Kent Hospital, Steere learned the woman had told staff that she couldn’t go back to prison, and that she was out on probation. She had also made an attempt to escape but was restrained by hospital security.

At WPD headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, the woman’s identity was verified, as were her outstanding warrants. She was charged with obstructing an officer for failing to provide her real name.