Cranston Man Drops Drugs at Johnston Police Station

A Cranston man faces a felony drug charge after Johnston Police say he carried at least two more bags of drugs into the police station — including one found during a strip-search — after he had already been found with drugs.

Lorenzo Evans, 39, remains held at the Adult Correctional Institutions for a bail violation from previous charges of drug and weapons possession and breaking and entering brought by West Warwick Police in March.

On Sept. 13, Ptlm. Arthur Petteruti reported that he found a rented Jeep parked at 19 City View Ave., which Petteruti termed "a known residence dealing narcotics."

The officers then watched as the Jeep left the home, with Petteruti noting that it took a right turn without using directionals or making a stop.

Petteruti reported that he pulled over the Jeep as Sgt. Joseph Salvatore arrived.

In talking to Evans, Pettruti said he smelled marijuana from the Jeep, and described Evans as "sweating profusely and mumbling."

Evans kept putting his hands in the waistband of his pants, and the officers found a metal pipe for smoking pot on the passenger seat, according to Petteruti.

As they led Evans from the Jeep, Petteruti said the officers saw a plastic baggie fall to the ground. Another baggie dropped as Evans put his hands on the police cruiser, according to Salvadore.

Petteruti said the two officers then searched Evans and found $1,113 in cash, and called in the Rhode Island State Police K-9 unit to search the Jeep again, which turned up a red smoking pipe.

While Evans was handcuffed in the police station detention cell, Petteruti said yet another baggie fell from his pants, leading officers to conduct a strip-search.

The further search found a small amount of drugs hidden between Evans's buttocks, Petteruti reported.

Salvadore reported that the officers found:

• 15.6 g of crack;
• 2.7 g of powder cocaine; and
• 1.2 g of heroin.