Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Warwick man has been found guilty by a Kent County Superior Court jury of charges stemming from an impaired driving crash that injured an on-duty Rhode Island State Police (RISP) trooper in 2021.

On Feb. 8, following the conclusion of a four-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos, the jury found Richard Stanley, 56, of Warwick, guilty of one count of driving to endanger resulting in physical injury and one count of driving under the influence.

The defendant is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in Kent County Superior Court on April 26.

 “Every time someone chooses to drive while under the influence, they are putting many lives at risk,” Neronha said. “Our Rhode Island State troopers have a mantra — ‘always there’ — that aptly describes their commitment to public safety and service to Rhode Islanders. Living up to that mantra also means that our troopers expose themselves to great risk, as evidenced by this case. I am grateful to the RISP and the entire investigative and prosecution team for their work on this case and so many others.”

Accoring to a press release from the AG’s office, “during the trial, the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that on Dec. 28, 2021, the defendant, while impaired, crashed his vehicle into a RISP cruiser alongside of Interstate 95 South in Warwick, injuring a trooper inside of the cruiser who had initiated a motor vehicle stop.”

“That evening, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a RISP trooper in a blue Ford Explorer, with its emergency lights activated, pulled over a silver Toyota Camry alongside the highway,” according to prosecutors. “Several minutes later, the defendant, driving a white Nissan Sentra, veered from the center lane of I-95 South and crashed into the rear of the cruiser. Investigators from the RISP Collision Reconstruction Unit determined that the defendant’s vehicle was travelling at 52 miles per hour just prior to the crash, and at no time during the five seconds preceding the crash, did the defendant activate the brakes of his vehicle.”

After the crash, the defendant allegedly “told investigators that he had consumed alcohol and had taken Xanax.” They agued that “later, while at Rhode Island Hospital, the defendant submitted to a blood test, which revealed that the defendant had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .011%, and Alprazolam (Xanax) was present in his system.”

“Typically, the men and women of the Rhode Island State Police respond to all manner of highway crashes as first responders and investigators,” said Rhode Island State Police (RISP) Colonel Darnell S. Weaver. “And here, a trooper became the victim of an impaired driving crash — one that could easily have been avoided or exacerbated by a minor change in circumstances. We are all thankful that tragedy was avoided here, and Rhode Islanders should know that impaired driving is completely avoidable, and such a minor thing can have a great impact on public safety.”

Special Assistant Attorney General John Malloy led the prosecution of the case, and RISP Corp. Amy Jackman and Trooper Jason Difusco led the investigation.

DRUG BUSTS

Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) Task Force raided Johnston, Providence and Warwick addresses last Friday morning, making several arrests.

Between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m., Feb. 16, members of the task force searched several addresses in different cities and towns across the Ocean State, taking several men into custody.

The HIDTA Task Force linked up with Pawtucket Police to arrest Nelson Castro, 25, of 190 Putnam Pike Apt. A, Johnston. Castro faces three charges: Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), and Possession of a Firearm while Committing a Controlled Substance Violation.

“This arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of the HIDTA Task Force and Pawtucket Police Department,” according to a Rhode Island State Police (RISP) press release. “Mr. Castro was transported to the Lincoln Barracks for processing, then was turned over to 3rd Division District Court for his arraignment.”

State Police also announced an arrest by members of the HIDTA Task Force, Intelligence Unit, Auto Theft Unit, ACI Investigations Unit, Financial Crimes Unit and the DEA Providence District Office of a Warwick man on Friday, Feb. 16.

According to RISP, Fredy Montilla, 41, of 27 Forrest St., Apt. B, Warwick, was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Heroin 2), Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), Possession of Heroin (1oz-1kg) and Possession of Fentanyl (1oz-1kg).

“This arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of the HIDTA Task Force,” according to the RISP press release. “Mr. Montilla was transported to the Lincoln Barracks for processing, then was turned over to 6th Division District Court for his arraignment.”

That same morning, HIDTA Task Force members also arrested Jhogel Florentino, 30, of 59 Thackery St., Apt. 4, Providence. Florentino was charged with Possession of a Firearm while Committing a Controlled Substance Violation (three counts), Alteration of Marks of Identification of Firearms, Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited (two counts), Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), Possession of Fentanyl In Excess of 1KG, Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Possession of Cocaine In Excess of 1KG, Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Possession of Methamphetamine In Excess of 1KG, Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Marijuana), Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 5KGs.

“This arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of the HIDTA Task Force,” according to RISP. “Mr. Florentino was transported to the Lincoln Barracks for processing, then was turned over to 6th Division District Court for his arraignment.”

ASSAULT WITH A

DANGEROUS WEAPON

Around 8:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 16, members of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested William T. Ruhle, 64, of 2020 Elmwood Ave., Warwick, on an Affidavit and Arrest Warrant from the Cranston Police Department, for the following charges: Felony Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault on a Person over 60 Causing Bodily Injury, and Larceny from the Person. The arrest was the result of an investigation by t

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Warwick man has been found guilty by a Kent County Superior Court jury of charges stemming from an impaired driving crash that injured an on-duty Rhode Island State Police (RISP) trooper in 2021.

On Feb. 8, following the conclusion of a four-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos, the jury found Richard Stanley, 56, of Warwick, guilty of one count of driving to endanger resulting in physical injury and one count of driving under the influence.

The defendant is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in Kent County Superior Court on April 26.

 “Every time someone chooses to drive while under the influence, they are putting many lives at risk,” Neronha said. “Our Rhode Island State troopers have a mantra — ‘always there’ — that aptly describes their commitment to public safety and service to Rhode Islanders. Living up to that mantra also means that our troopers expose themselves to great risk, as evidenced by this case. I am grateful to the RISP and the entire investigative and prosecution team for their work on this case and so many others.”

Accoring to a press release from the AG’s office, “during the trial, the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that on Dec. 28, 2021, the defendant, while impaired, crashed his vehicle into a RISP cruiser alongside of Interstate 95 South in Warwick, injuring a trooper inside of the cruiser who had initiated a motor vehicle stop.”

“That evening, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a RISP trooper in a blue Ford Explorer, with its emergency lights activated, pulled over a silver Toyota Camry alongside the highway,” according to prosecutors. “Several minutes later, the defendant, driving a white Nissan Sentra, veered from the center lane of I-95 South and crashed into the rear of the cruiser. Investigators from the RISP Collision Reconstruction Unit determined that the defendant’s vehicle was travelling at 52 miles per hour just prior to the crash, and at no time during the five seconds preceding the crash, did the defendant activate the brakes of his vehicle.”

After the crash, the defendant allegedly “told investigators that he had consumed alcohol and had taken Xanax.” They agued that “later, while at Rhode Island Hospital, the defendant submitted to a blood test, which revealed that the defendant had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .011%, and Alprazolam (Xanax) was present in his system.”

“Typically, the men and women of the Rhode Island State Police respond to all manner of highway crashes as first responders and investigators,” said Rhode Island State Police (RISP) Colonel Darnell S. Weaver. “And here, a trooper became the victim of an impaired driving crash — one that could easily have been avoided or exacerbated by a minor change in circumstances. We are all thankful that tragedy was avoided here, and Rhode Islanders should know that impaired driving is completely avoidable, and such a minor thing can have a great impact on public safety.”

Special Assistant Attorney General John Malloy led the prosecution of the case, and RISP Corp. Amy Jackman and Trooper Jason Difusco led the investigation.

DRUG BUSTS

Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) Task Force raided Johnston, Providence and Warwick addresses last Friday morning, making several arrests.

Between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m., Feb. 16, members of the task force searched several addresses in different cities and towns across the Ocean State, taking several men into custody.

The HIDTA Task Force linked up with Pawtucket Police to arrest Nelson Castro, 25, of 190 Putnam Pike Apt. A, Johnston. Castro faces three charges: Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), and Possession of a Firearm while Committing a Controlled Substance Violation.

“This arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of the HIDTA Task Force and Pawtucket Police Department,” according to a Rhode Island State Police (RISP) press release. “Mr. Castro was transported to the Lincoln Barracks for processing, then was turned over to 3rd Division District Court for his arraignment.”

State Police also announced an arrest by members of the HIDTA Task Force, Intelligence Unit, Auto Theft Unit, ACI Investigations Unit, Financial Crimes Unit and the DEA Providence District Office of a Warwick man on Friday, Feb. 16.

According to RISP, Fredy Montilla, 41, of 27 Forrest St., Apt. B, Warwick, was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Heroin 2), Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), Possession of Heroin (1oz-1kg) and Possession of Fentanyl (1oz-1kg).

“This arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of the HIDTA Task Force,” according to the RISP press release. “Mr. Montilla was transported to the Lincoln Barracks for processing, then was turned over to 6th Division District Court for his arraignment.”

That same morning, HIDTA Task Force members also arrested Jhogel Florentino, 30, of 59 Thackery St., Apt. 4, Providence. Florentino was charged with Possession of a Firearm while Committing a Controlled Substance Violation (three counts), Alteration of Marks of Identification of Firearms, Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited (two counts), Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl), Possession of Fentanyl In Excess of 1KG, Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Possession of Cocaine In Excess of 1KG, Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Possession of Methamphetamine In Excess of 1KG, Possession with Intent to Deliver of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Marijuana), Possession of Marijuana in Excess of 5KGs.

“This arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of the HIDTA Task Force,” according to RISP. “Mr. Florentino was transported to the Lincoln Barracks for processing, then was turned over to 6th Division District Court for his arraignment.”

ASSAULT WITH A

DANGEROUS WEAPON

Around 8:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 16, members of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested William T. Ruhle, 64, of 2020 Elmwood Ave., Warwick, on an Affidavit and Arrest Warrant from the Cranston Police Department, for the following charges: Felony Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault on a Person over 60 Causing Bodily Injury, and Larceny from the Person. The arrest was the result of an investigation by the Violent Fugitive Task Force. According to Rhode Island State Police, Ruhle was taken into custody without incident and turned over to the Cranston Police Department.

The Violent Fugitive Task Force. According to Rhode Island State Police, Ruhle was taken into custody without incident and turned over to the Cranston Police Department.