Tiverton, Westport Police capture Somerset man after house break-in, nearly running homeowner over

A local man has been arrested after reportedly breaking into a home, throwing things at the owner, and nearly striking her with a vehicle.

According to Captain Michael C. Miguel, on November 21st, 2021, officers of the Tiverton Police Department responded to Seapowett Avenue for the report of a breaking and entering that was interrupted by a family member of the homeowner.

While officers were responding, dispatch advised that, the male suspect had left the scene in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck. Upon arrival at the scene, officers spoke with two witnesses.

The first witness reported she had observed an unknown pickup truck in a family member’s driveway and observed a side door was open. The witness stated that she stopped to check on the house. She reported that upon entering the home, she observed a male, unknown to her, in a bedroom rummaging through a jewelry box. The witness confronted the male at which time he threw the jewelry box at her, hitting her in the head. The witness reported that she then hid in another bedroom at which time the male threw a glass candle at her. The witness stated that as she attempted to prevent the male from leaving, he grabbed her and pulled her away from the front door.

The second witness reported that she arrived at her family member’s house after being contacted by the first witness. At that time, she observed the male exiting the house from the front door. The second witness reported that when she confronted the male in the driveway, he lunged at her. The second witness stated that the male got into the pickup truck and drove towards her and the first witness, nearly striking them. The second witness was able to obtain the pickup truck’s license plate number. Both witnesses declined medical treatment at the scene.

Officers advised surrounding communities of the description and license plate number of the pickup truck. A short time later, the Westport Police Department reported that they stopped the suspect’s vehicle. Tiverton Police transported one of the witnesses to Westport, at which time she was able to positively identify the male as the person who was inside her family member’s home. Westport Police took forty-four-year-old Jay M. Oliveira of Somerset, into custody.

Oliveira was arraigned in Fall River District and released on bail with the promise to turn himself into Rhode Island authorities. Oliveira failed to appear in Newport District Court.

Tiverton Detectives, with the assistance of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, spent the next several months attempting to locate and apprehend Oliveira. Eventually, arrangements were made for Oliveira to turn himself into the Tiverton Police.