WARWICK, RI — Warwick officers performing a wellness check on the occupant of a black 2025 Ford Bronco at Holiday Inn Express, 901 Jefferson Blvd found the Coventry man well, but possessing 3.5 grams of crack cocaine at 3:51 a.m. Dec. 4.
Officers Jonathan Lee and Benjamin Floyd approached the Bronco, which had been involved in an incident in which a number of people had run from Floyd while he was patrolling the hotel parking lot an hour earlier at 02:23 a.m. Inside, they found the driver reclined, lying down, in the SUV, browsing his phone, according to Lee’s report.
Lee knocked on the driver’s window, and the man, later identified as Jason Gentile, 42, of 9 Osceola Ave., Coventry, got out of the Bronco. Lee noticed white powder inside the Bronco on the driver’s seat. Lee noted in his report Gentile had a recorded history of cocaine use. He asked for permission to search the Bronco. Gentile granted it.
Crack cocaine found, confirmed
During the search, Lee confirmed the powder, and also found ripped aluminum foil pieces, and copper wire, common items in drug use, according to the report. Lee observed a small clear bag a white substance underneath the back-middle seating area, tucked away between a cushion and a metal rod.
After several minutes attempting to access the bag, Lee was able to retrieve it. The clear, twisted bag held a hard-white substance, which Lee identified as crack cocaine. Lee also found a large bag of Narcan in a bag in the trunk.
Lee arrested Gentile, handcuffed him and placed him in his cruiser, then transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where Sgt. Sara Goes tested the white substance using a TruNarc scan, which was positive for cocaine.
Lee charged Gentile with one count of Possession of Schedule I-V Controlled Substance 10 Grams or Less – R.I.G.L. 21-28-4.01 (c)(2)(I). Lee released Gentile with a summons to appear at 3rd District court on Dec. 16 for arraignment. He was presented as a bail violator Jan. 20 and held without bail, and scheduled for a March 23 court screening.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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