Police: Robbery, Car Theft Suspect used False Name

It looks like we owe James Beaton of Pawtucket an apology.

Beaton was not the man arrested last week for stealing a car and breaking into an Attleboro house and subsequently was arrested in Cranston.

Along with stealing a car, robbing a house and getting caught in Cranston by an off-duty cop after he was trying to sell hot jewelry at Knightsville Pub, Leonard Gray, 43, of Central Falls also gave police a false name when he was arrested last week.

Cranston Police Major Robert W. Ryan said Cranston Police originally ID'd the man arrested last week as James Beaton when Gray gave "personally identifiable information allowing him to unlawfully use the identity" of Beaton.

Police have been in contact with Beaton, who has no arrest record, "and all the charges against him were dropped immediately," Ryan said.

Detectives say Gray has used aliases in the past, many of whom are individuals with the same age or that he's known in the past. Gray reportedly has used Beaton's identity on the past as well.

The revelation has prompted Cranston Police to investigate Gray for identity theft and to tack on an extra charge of obstruction of justice in addition to possessing a motor vehicle and felony possession of stolen goods.