Sleeping Driver Arrested for Fentanyl Oct. 12

WARWICK, RI — Officers Andrew Chretien and Nicholas Manocchio were called to Canfield Ave.  home Oct. 12 at 11:02 a.m. for a report of a man asleep in a black Hyundai, later arresting him for possession of fentanyl.

According to Chretien’s report, the officers found the car parked in front of the address,  with the man slumped forward in the driver’s seat with the engine running. Chretien knocked on the window repeatedly, but was unable to rouse the driver.

Chretien opened the driver’s side door and shook the man by the shoulder while continuing to cal to him, gradually waking the man. During this process, Chretien saw an uncapped needle with blood in it, in plain view in the car, according to the report. Noting it as a sign of drug use, he asked the man, identified as David J. LeBlanc, II, of 259 Buttonwoods Ave., Warwick, to step out of the car.

Chretien searched LeBlanc, finding a crack pipe and a plastic bag with white powder in it, later identified as fentanyl, about 1.2 grams. Chretien arrested LeBlanc for possession of the controlled substance, and placed him in his cruiser, transporting him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.

The officers searched the Hyundai, finding multiple needles and another crack pipe, according to the report. The car’s plates had also expired. The officers called Herb’s towing to remove the Hyundai from the street.