Crime & Safety

Police Log: Woman Beaten in Love Triangle Gone Awry, Boy Throws Rocks at Cars

Portsmouth Police charged a man and a woman for allegedly assaulting another woman in an apparent love triangle gone awry on May 5.

Portsmouth Police charged a man and a woman for allegedly assaulting another woman in an apparent love triangle gone awry on May 5.

Police said they were dispatched to the house across from New China Restaurant at about 9:49 p.m. after they got a call from a witness who said she saw a man and woman, later identified by police as Gregory Steve Mathias, 27 of 3286 East Main Road, Portsmouth; and Cheryl Madaline Ferreira, 37, of 250 Mt. Hope Ave., Fall River, assaulting the woman and it appeared serious in nature.

Upon arrival, police found the victim who reportedly told police that she was attacked by two men — but later said it was a man and woman and appeared confused and unsure of what just happened. She said it all happened so quickly and she pointed to Mathias’ house as she told them her attackers went inside.

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The victim also suggested that the suspects might have weapons. That information,  along with the violent nature of the assault, prompted police to force their way into the house after their knocks went unheeded.

Inside, they found both Mathias and Ferreira. Mathias reportedly told police that the victim was his ex-girlfriend and they had broken up for a long time before changing his story, saying they had broken up for two weeks. He then changed his story again and said they broke up within the week.

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He also reportedly changed his story about the victim having a key to the residence, first telling officers that the victim was trying to force her way inside the house and then later admitting he had given her a key.

During questioning, police said Ferreira didn’t give a consistent story either, essentially repeating what Mathias said “not realizing that Mathias’ stories were inconsistent,” a police report stated. She also appeared confused when officers told her that Mathias had given her a key.

The victim later told police that she was trying to get inside the house when Mathias and “some chick” opened the door and immediately began attacking her.

The witness told police in a written statement that the victim was grabbed by the neck by Mathias and he moved her across the porch. He then swung his arms, striking the victim. It was then that Ferreira came outside and began punching the victim too.

“The witness explained that Mathias would step away from the fight as Ferreira continued to punch [the victim]," police said. The witness said “Mathias would then go back into the fight and strike [the victim]” and reportedly threw her across the porch “at least two times.”

At one point, both Mathias and Ferreira were on top of the victim, punching her with closed fists at the same time.

Ultimatley, police charged Ferreira with simple assault.

Mathias was charged with domestic simple assault and domestic disorderly conduct. He was also charged with larceny for allegedly taking the victim’s phone and putting it in his pocket. Police found the phone after a search.

Both were released on personal recognizance.

The victim was treated at Newport Hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

ROCK THROWING
Police arrested a 17-year-old area boy on April 29 after he allegedly was throwing rocks at cars at the intersection of Anthony Road and Boyd’s Lane.

Police said they were dispatched to the area at around 7:26 p.m. after a report of a male throwing rocks.

They soon caught up with the juvenile on Anthony Road where he was taken into custody.

Police said the juvenile damaged a car driven by a woman heading south on Boyd’s Lane by throwing a rock through her rear passenger door window. A witness driving behind the victim’s car said she saw the juvenile behaving strangely on the side of the road before watching him pick up a rock near a stone wall and throw it at the victim’s car.

The matter will be adjudicated in Family Court. 


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