Oakland Beach Traffic Stop Ends in Arrest for Crack, Heroin

WARWICK, RI  — Officer Aaron Steere was driving north on Oakland Beach Avenue June 23 at 10:59 p.m. when a silver 2014 Toyota Camry sedan turned suddenly onto Ottawa Avenue, pulled it over and arrested the driver for possession of crack cocaine.

Steere followed the Camry as it travled 30-35 mph in the 25 mph zone, failing to make complete stops before he pulled it over on Hazard Avenue, according to the officer’s report.

Steere reported he approached the car and identified the driver as Newon Sendolo,, 25, of 160 Hanover St., Providence. Sendolo said he was in the area to meet a woman at Iggy’s, according to the report. Steere wrote that though the man claimed to have been to Iggy’s before, he had turned into the neighborhood to reach it unnecessarily. The officer also noted a flip phone on the floor of the car near the driver’s seat, in addition to a smart phone the driver was carrying, and a large amount of cash on the center console.

Steere suspected Sendolo was in the area to sell narcotics, and asked Sendolo for his consent to search the car, which the driver gave him. Sendolo assured him there was nothing illegal in the car.

Steere brought his K-9 partner Viking over from his cruiser, and the dog responded that there was some form of illegal drug in the car. Sendolo allowed that there might be marijuana in the car.

Steere did a hand search of the interior, finding several plastic bags containing what appeared to be crack cocaine and heroin in the driver’s side door compartment. In all, Steere found about 3.6 grams of crack cocaine, and 9.5 ounces of heroin. Steere also found trace amounts of marijuana.

Steer seized the drugs, as well as the cash, totaling $959 in $5, $10 and $20 bills, and arrested Sendolo for felony possession of narcotics with intent to deliver.