WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — A man that faced a judge Monday after causing a crash and leading police on a foot pursuit in Providence also faced a judge on separate charges out of Smithfield Tuesday.
John Marzano, 49, was held on $5,000 surety bail after being arraigned in Kent County District Court on charges of shoplifting, eluding police and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.
According to a court affidavit, Marzano and a female were suspects in a shoplifting incident at The Crossing at Smithfield.
The affidavit said Marzano and the female stole several pieces of clothing from Kohl’s, worth approximately $340, before fleeing the scene in a silver Toyota Avalon. While fleeing the scene, the affidavit said Marzano nearly backed into the Kohl’s loss prevention officer as he tried to stop them.
Marzano then led officers on a pursuit as he weaved in and out of heavy mall traffic. The affidavit said when police tried to conduct a traffic stop, Marzano nearly hit two officers as he swerved in and out of the median.
Police said Marzano also caused a two-car crash Monday near the intersection of Eddy and Public Streets in Providence, 12 hours after the incident in Smithfield.
Marzano left the scene of that crash, which sent four people, including himself, to the hospital. He was arraigned in Providence Monday on one felony count of failure to stop in an accidently resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless driving and other offenses against public safety.
