Dogs Chase Away Armed Home Invaders, Police Nab Them Moments Later

Three adult men and one juvenile are facing a slew of charges including fire-degree robbery after they were rounded up by police after a botched home invasion at a marijuana caregiver's house off Pontiac Avenue Thursday night.

Police said the robbers burst into the door claiming to be police, fled after being chased out of the house by dogs, sped off in a Chevrolet Malibu, intentionally struck a police car that was in pursuit and one of them took off on foot once they finally stopped the car but was found with a K-9 unit hiding in the bushes behind a house on Auburn Street.

Police charged Calvin Johnson, 37, of 721 Main St., Pawtucket, with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first degree robbery, resisting arrest, reckless driving and eluding police. He was also charged with driving with a suspended license.

Also charged was Jodi Johnson, 42, of 1168 Westminster St., Providence, with first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery.

Curtis Gomes, 18, of 186 Eastwood Ave., Providence, was charged with first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first degree robbery as well as a 17-year-old juvenile.

It all started around 8 p.m. last night when Cranston Police responded to the house off Pontiac Avenue in the Eden Park neighborhood for a report of an armed home invasion.

The residents said they were watching TV when they heard a knock on the door followed by a man claiming to be a police officer.

The man barged in the house waving a silver handgun and claimed to be a police officer.

The suspect then demanded money, but a relative of the resident released the dogs who chased the intruder out of the house.

The suspect then fled on foot, ran one street over and got into the Chevy, which took off towards Reservoir Avenue.

Moments later, Cranston Police Det. Ronald Fuoroli saw the car heading east on Park Avenue near the Pontiac Avenue intersection. 

The car didn't stop and kept going down Park Avenue, but "Detective Fuoroli was finally able to stop the suspect vehicle after his police vehicle was intentionally struck by the fleeing suspects at the intersection of Park Avenue and Potter Street," said Cranston Police Major Robert W. Ryan.

Once stopped, the back seat passenger bolted. Police said that person was Jodi Johnson, who was tracked along with help from a Warwick K-9 unit.

The other suspects in the car were removed by police and arrested.

Police said it was Jodi Johnson who entered the house brandishing the weapon and so they followed his escape route near Atomic Salon where they soon spotted a wooden fence with fresh damage. As Officer Matthew Schaffran entered the yard next to the fence behind the salon, he spotted the handgun on the ground.

All three adult suspects were arraigned in Third Division District Court and ordered held without bail.

Jodi Johnson reportedly had an active Parole Board warrant for his arrest and Calvin Johnson was a Superior Court violator, police said, and court records show he has had five probation violations in District Court.

The juvenile will be adjudicated in Family Court.