WPD Makes Motel 6 Fentanyl Possession Arrest May 2

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police stopped a the driver of a gray 2018 Hyundai Tuscon with a obscuring license plate cover as it pulled into the Motel 6 on Jefferson Boulevard May 2 at 2:31 a.m., arresting him for fentanyl possession.

Ricardo Burgos, 54 of 490 Cranston St., Providence, RI, was ultimately charged with one count of Possession of a Schedule I-V drug, fentanyl, the arraigned on the charge in Third District Court on May 23. He was released on $1,000 bail with a court date of Aug. 16 in Third District Court according to state court records.

According to the report of Officer Conor Bemis, he spotted the Tuscon pulling into the motel lot and noticed the obscured plate while posted at the Eco Fuel gas station. As he pulled the Hyndai over, he was able to see the plate by using his high beams, the officer reported.

Bemis got out of his cruiser and approached the car to speak with the driver, whom he later identified as Burgos. There was no one else in the car, according to the officer’s report. However, Bemis did see crack pipes inside a cigarette container on the passenger’s front seat.

Burgos told Bemis he was visiting a friend at the motel, but changed his account of who that was during their talk, according to the officer’s report. Burgos also appeared nervous and was sweating heavily, the officer noted, during what was later determined was a cool 47 degree morning.

Bemis asked Burgos to get out of the vehicle, which the driver did. Bemis searched him, finding a contact container covered in white powder the officer suspected was either heroin or fentanyl. He also searched the SUV, finding a bag containing a brown powder, also suspected to be heroin or fentanyl.

Bemis also found naloxone, used to treat overdoses from opioid use, in the car, along with scales and hypodermic needles, all of which he seized for evidence. He cuffed Burgos and placed him in his cruiser, then transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.