Observation by police leads to arrests, retrieval of stolen Seekonk vehicle, shotgun

Police charged three people in an incident where two people were in a stolen car with a stolen firearm and neither of the two were supposed to be with each other. That is just the beginning.

At 12:30 a.m. this morning, North Smithfield Police officers observed a vehicle parked at the Travelers Motor Lodge on Eddie Dowling Highway. The vehicle was occupied by a male and female. When the vehicle parked, the man was observed knocking on random rooms of the motel. Officers conducted a registration check on the vehicle and learned that the vehicle was stolen out of Seekonk. Contact was made with the man who was identified as 40-year-old Thavisack Souphida, from Providence. The female was identified as Emily Gomez, a 39-year-old female from Providence. Souphida was asked why he was at the motel, and he stated that he was looking for a room. It was later discovered that Souphida had multiple warrants for his arrest as well as three no contact orders listing Gomez as the protected party. When officers made contact with Gomez, she became aggressive and also attempted to walk away from officers while they were conducting their investigation.

During the on-scene investigation, officers were approached by a female who had what turned out to be a small drill bit in her hand. As she was approaching the officers she stated, “I am here to be the hero”. Officers were able to remove the item from her hand, but she then tried to strike the officers. Officers were able to stop her from striking them and take her into custody. The female was identified as Samantha Chase a 27-year-old female with a last known address out of New York.

While conducting an inventory search of the stolen vehicle, they observed a 12-gauge shotgun directly behind the front seats of the vehicle and easily accessible to both occupants. The shotgun was also confirmed stolen from Providence.

Souphida was charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Stolen Vehicle; Possession of Firearm by person convicted of a crime of violence, and three charges of violation of a no contact order.

Gomez was charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Firearm by person convicted of a crime of violence, and disorderly conduct.

Chase was charged with Obstruction and disorderly conduct.