Wanted fugitives arrested in Hopkinton after crashing stolen car

HOPKINTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Two fugitives wanted in New Hampshire for carjacking were arrested in Rhode Island late last week.

Rhode Island State Police said that troopers responded to a single-car crash at about 11 a.m. Friday on Interstate 95 in Hopkinton.

Police said they learned that the car involved in the crash was recently reported stolen out of New Hampshire.

Capt. David Bassignani said after the crash, the two occupants — later identified as 23-year-old Melanie Diperna and 32-year-old Kelvin Lewis — fled the scene on foot.

Rhode Island State police shared this booking photo of Kelvin Lewis.

Before fleeing the scene, the captain said Lewis — who’s from Florida — tried carjacking a car that had stopped to help. He’s accused of assaulting both people in that car.

A description of both Diperna and Lewis was obtained, said police.

Bassignani said a state police K-9 was able to track the suspects to a home on Extension 184 in Ashaway, which had an exterior basement door.

“Both suspects were located in a crawl space in the back of the basement, and they were taken into custody without further incident,” said Bassignani in a press release.

Rhode Island State police shared this booking photo of Melanie Diperna.

Lewis was charged with the following:

• Fugitive from justice out of the state of New Hampshire — 1st degree felony assault
  Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
• Two counts of simple assault
• Assault with intent to commit specified felonies
• Attempted robbery (carjacking)
• Breaking and entering of a dwelling when resident on premises
• Obstruction of officer in execution of duty — the 1st degree felony assault out of New Hampshire stemmed from an incident where Lewis allegedly stabbed a woman in the neck

Diperna, of New Hampshire, was charged with:

• Fugitive from justice out of the state of New Hampshire for a Hillsborough Superior Court warrant for failure to appear for possession of fentanyl, possession of buprenorphine, dealing in or possessing prescription drugs, and receiving stolen property
• Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
• Breaking and entering of a dwelling when resident on premises
• Obstruction of officer in execution of duty

Both suspects were arraigned by Justice of the Peace at the Hope Valley Barracks. They were held at the Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston, pending a future court date.