NORTH SMITHFIELD – A Cumberland man with a long criminal history successfully escaped police twice in one day, but still ultimately faced charges after calling the North Smithfield Police Department to say he didn’t comply with the traffic stop because he wasn’t notified why he was being pulled over.
David Paiva, 54, of Cumberland, was arrested in April for an incident that began when an officer reportedly observed him cutting across the back of the Kohl’s parking lot at Dowling Village driving a pickup truck without a seatbelt.
According to the arrest report, Officer Kyle Delprete then saw Paiva take an illegal turn at a traffic light exiting the plaza, and attempted to initiate a stop.
Delprete notes that Paiva stopped his vehicle in the parking lot of the Park Square Dollar Tree, but then took off as the officer exited his cruiser. The truck then headed toward the highway, and Delprete followed at a distance, noting he watched Paiva travel the wrong way on the highway turnaround and then drive recklessly along several different highways. Surrounding agencies were told to be on the lookout as the truck reportedly left town driving into Lincoln.
“Cumberland PD is familiar with Paiva, who has an extensive criminal history to include domestic charges and larceny,” the report notes.
That evening, a Cumberland officer spotted the same truck behind Wise Guys Deli on Bound Road, but when police attempted to make contact, Paiva ran into the woods. Officers were unable to locate him and the truck was later towed, according to the report.
Delprete notes that Paiva has a criminal history involving stolen motor vehicle parts, and the truck bed was filled with scrap metal, a pair of struts, two dishwashers and an AC unit.
The following day, Paiva called NSPD and left a message, stating that the reason he ran from police was because he wasn’t notified why he was being stopped.
“Due to being able to positively identify David Paiva as the operator that fled from me on the stop and that he admitted via recorded line that he failed to stop for police, a warrant will be issued…” Delprete notes.
Paiva was later picked up on the warrant and arraigned in Superior Court.
The state criminal database shows Paiva has an extensive history with law enforcement starting back in 1988, when he was arrested for an attempted B & E in North Kingstown. The years that followed have seen counts for domestic assault; reckless driving; resisting arrest; eluding police; vandalism; burglary; fraudulent checks; disorderly conduct; willful trespass; receiving/possession of stolen goods; driving without consent of the owner; possession of a controlled substance; fraudulent use of a credit card; obstructing an officer; breaking and entering; leaving the scene of an accident; driving with a suspended license; possession of a stolen vehicle; receiving stolen goods; larceny; tampering with vehicles; domestic violence and more.
In 2019, Paiva appeared on track to serve his first major prison sentence following a crime spree in Cumberland according to reports. But he was ultimately released with a suspended sentence and ten years probation.
For the recent North Smithfield charges, Paiva pled no contest, and received another five year suspended sentence and loss of his license for one year.
