Driver Asleep in Traffic Arrested for Fentanyl

WARWICK, RI — Officers responded to a call for a driver asleep in Centerville Road traffic April 24 at 9:26 a.m., arresting the man for fentanyl possession.

Officer Jackson Acciaioli responded to the call, described as an apparent man asleep at the wheel in the west lanes near 636 Centerville Road. He found an SUV, a silver Nissan Rogue, with WPD Sgt. Christopher Cote and Officer David Waddington standing near the SUV with the driver, identified as Michael Perkins, 46, of 21 Wayland Ave., Providence, RI, according to the officer’s report.

Waddington and Cote explained they’d spotted Perkins behind the wheel in traffic, apparently sleeping, and approached his SUV, spotting multiple tie-off bags of white powder in the vehicle, in plain sight, Acciaioli reported.

According to the report, Perkins passed sobriety tests and was not charged with driving under the influence. He also denied having taken drugs or drinking alcohol that day when asked, according to the report.

When asked what was in the bags, Perkins said it could be heroin, but was most likely fentanyl.

Acciaioli arrested Perkins and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where the substance in the bags tested positive for fentanyl and Acciaioli charged Perkins with possession of fentanyl, first offense.

Perkins was scheduled for a May 7 hearing on the charge in Third District Court and released. He was arraigned in Third District Court May 7, scheduled for an Aug. 5 court screening, and released on $1,000 persona recognizance.