Brush Fire a Beer Party in Park

Five young men – four from Riverside and one from Barrington – were arrested on alcohol-related charges early last Tuesday morning, May 21, after a blaze they set in a fire pit at Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington drew the attention of an East Providence police officer.

The E.P. patrol officer initially thought he spotted a brush fire in the park at around 12:45 am. Barrington firefighters and four police officers were dispatched. They found a beer party in the park instead. 

Andrew W. Vine, 20, of 200 Riverside Drive, Riverside, and Shane M. Grant, 20, of 121 Turner Ave., Riverside, were charged with drunk driving because they attempted to leave the park with the three other men in their cars when patrol officers showed up, according to Barrington Police Chief John LaCross. 

Vine’s blood alcohol level was .109 and .111, well above the legal limit. Grant’s blood alcohol level was even higher, .139, said LaCross. The legal limit is .08.

They were arraigned in District Court.

Joshua J. Howard, 19, of 218 Crescent View Ave., and Michael W. Andreozzi, 20, of 47 Bay Spring Ave., Barrington, face charges of possession of alcohol by an underage person. Each was given a summons and released. 

Jesus A. Diaz Bueno, 21, of 28 Carousel Drive, Riverside, was charged with purchasing alcohol for minors. He apparently admitted to purchasing the beer, said LaCross. He was given a summons and released.

The fire pit was near the boat ramp. Officers found at least 30 beer cans strewn around the pit and an empty cardboard container burning in the pit.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze.