Rhode Island road rage incident leads to seizure of nearly 400 pills, officer needing Narcan

A call for a road rage incident, where threats were reportedly made, resulted in an arrest on multiple drug charges.

According to the Smithfield Police Department, on Saturday, at 6:40 a.m., Smithfield Police responded to Season’s Corner Market, 947 Douglas Pike, for a possible road rage incident. Officers spoke with both involved parties and determined that 39-year-old Anthony Romano of Johnston had threatened to shoot the reporting party after following him from Providence to Smithfield.

Upon further investigation, Officers searched Romano for weapons and discovered a large plastic baggie containing an unknown, white powdery substance tucked in his waistband. Officers also discovered that Romano possessed a brown bag containing 390 suspected Oxycodone pills.

While still on scene, and shortly after the discovery of the narcotics in Romano’s possession, the Smithfield Police Officer that performed the search became ill and had to be administered one dose of Narcan by another officer. The Smithfield Officer was transported to Fatima Hospital for symptoms consistent with exposure to fentanyl and was released from the hospital a few hours later.

Romano was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of Schedule I-V Substance over 10 grams (Cocaine) and Felony Possession of Schedule I-V Substance over 10 grams (Oxycodone). Both substances will be tested for the possible presence of fentanyl.

Romano later appeared before the Bail Commissioner Frank Saccoccio. Bail was set at $10,000 personal recognizance and he is scheduled to appear in Superior Court on November 7th, 2022, to answer to the charges.