EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WPRI) - David Catalano is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of driving to endanger, death resulting and leaving the scene of an accident, death resulting after a fatal hit and run crash that killed an East Greenwich gas station attendant.

Investigators say Catalano hit and killed 66-year-old Clifford LaValle while LaValle was putting air in the tire of a vehicle at the Shell Gas Station on Post Road in East Greenwich this weekend.

LaValle was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital where he died several hours later.

LaValle worked at the Shell Station for most of his life. Family members are calling his death "devastating," but otherwise did not want to comment.

Police identified Catalano after an eyewitness wrote down his license plate number.

Catalano is also accused of shooting a North Kingstown Police Officer who attempted to notify Catalano that he was being cited for the hit and run.

The officer survived because he was wearing a bullet proof vest.


Catalano has been ordered held without bail on a number of charges stemming from that incident.
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_n...n_20090518_deg

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.—A man accused of shooting and wounding a police officer with the officer's handgun during an investigation into a fatal hit-and-run accident was ordered held without bail Monday.

David Catalano, 29, did not enter a plea during a hearing in Wakefield District Court where he was charged with assault with intent to murder, a firearms offense, stealing a police cruiser and other crimes. A bail hearing was set for June 3.

It was not immediately clear whether Catalano had an attorney. A phone listing for him could not be found.

The shooting happened Sunday as police officers investigated a hit-and-run accident at a nearby East Greenwich gas station that killed longtime attendant Clifford Levalley, 66.

Officer Travis Maiato's (MAY'-ah-toh) was sent to Catalano's home in North Kingstown after the accident and was waiting for police to arrive from East Greenwich. Catalano attacked the officer when he heard a message over the police radio indicating that Levalley had been seriously injured, prosecutors said.

Catalano fired once while Maiato was on his knees and twice at his head, authorities said. The officer was in good condition Monday at Rhode Island Hospital and may soon be released, North Kingstown Police Chief Edward Charboneau said.

Catalano was expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Warwick District Court on charges related to the traffic fatality, including leaving the scene of an accident where someone was killed and driving to endanger, death resulting.
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