WPD K-9 Unit Aids State Police Drug Bust in Charlestown

Warwick, RI – Warwick Police K-9 Officer Aaron Steere and his canine partner, Viking, assisted members of the State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force in a search of a Charlestown home Sept. 2 resulting in a man’s arrest for possession of crack, heroin, cocaine, morphine, oxycontin, Adderall, marijuana, five handguns and a shotgun.

Officers seized 496 grams of heroin, 35 grams of crack cocaine, 72 grams of cocaine, 124 grams of morphine, 281 OxyContin pills, 27 Adderall pills, 23 lbs. of marijuana, 96 marijuana plants and $3,027 in cash from the home of Jason Smith, 84 Botka Dr., Charlesotwn, and arrested him for possession with intent to deliver the drugs, possession of firearms while committing a violent crime, and possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation.

Smith faces up to 50 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the heroin charge, up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for each of the remaining drug charges, up to 10 years in prison on the possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, up to 20 years for possession of firearms while committing a violent crime.

On Sept. 2, Steere and Viking entered the home after task force members secured it. As they approached, Steere reported he could smell a strong odor of marijuana from outside, then also inside the home.

Viking detected an odor of narcotics in Smith’s bedroom, near his dresser, according to Steere’s report. He also detected recent human odor and/or firearms/ammunition on the bed.

In the basement, Steere reported there was a large marijuana growing operation, with an overpowering odor from dried and growing plants, as well as brown residue on a marijuana press in the area, which he didn’t allow Viking to investigate, for his own protection.

Viking also detected narcotics in a Dodge Ram pickup parked at an address two houses down from Smith’s home, in the dashboard area near the ashtray. After, Steere said task force members told him they suspected drugs were hidden in that area of the truck, which was used to transport narcotics.

After the search, Steere reported he learned task force members had found a large quantity of heroin, cocaine and marijuana in the bedroom, narcotics in the closet, firearms and ammunition hidden in the headboard.