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GoLocalProv | News | Cocaine Testing Issue Detected at RI Dept. of Health – Dozens of Criminal Cases Possibly Impacted

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GoLocalProv | News | Cocaine Testing Issue Detected at RI Dept. of Health – Dozens of Criminal Cases Possibly Impacted


Saturday, March 18, 2023

 

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The Rhode Island Division of Well being on Friday that in routine high quality assurance practices at RIDOH’s Forensic Drug Chemistry Laboratory this previous fall, a “laboratory high quality problem involving a cocaine detection was recognized.”

RIDOH mentioned the Legal professional Normal’s workplace was notified, and on Friday afternoon launched the next assertion”

“On March 14, 2023, the Division of Well being (DOH) notified our Workplace of a attainable contamination occasion at their Forensic Chemistry Lab which probably affected the outcomes of quite a few assessments on drug reveals, utilized in instances prosecuted by our Workplace, particularly affecting cocaine detections. 
 
Upon studying of the difficulty, our Workplace acted instantly to additional perceive the character of the attainable contamination and the scope of the difficulty, and has labored expeditiously to determine felony instances which may have been impacted. It’s our understanding, primarily based on info offered by the Rhode Island Forensic Laboratory, that this occasion involved drug reveals examined by one explicit laboratory scientist which can have yielded false optimistic outcomes for cocaine. 

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At this juncture, the Lab has recognized 52 lab instances which are probably impacted by this occasion. There are a further 263 instances which are pending evaluate. The Lab has represented to us that, primarily based on the data they at the moment have, they don’t imagine drug reveals examined by different laboratory scientists, or that drug reveals the place cocaine will not be indicated had been impacted.
 
Because of the discover we obtained from the Lab, we have now requested that each one affected reveals be retested. We additionally perceive that the Lab will expedite the retesting of reveals.
 
At current, our Workplace is working to make sure that each impacted case is recognized; discover is shipped to protection counsel representing defendants; discover is shipped to police departments; and the implementation of a plan to rapidly deal with any query concerning the reliability of the drug testing in query. That course of has been time consuming because the listing of instances despatched to us by the lab doesn’t embrace corresponding court docket case numbers. 

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We’ve been working to determine all pending and disposed instances in addition to instances the place the defendant could also be held or serving a sentence on the ACI. At this juncture, it doesn’t seem that any defendant is held solely primarily based on costs involving cocaine.
 
We’ve additionally reached out to and briefed the Public Defender, the presiding and performing presiding justice of the Superior Courtroom, the presiding justice of the District Courtroom, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Affiliation, and the Rhode Island State Police.
 
Following our preliminary motion, we are going to proceed our work to guage the scope and affect of this problem, and expeditiously work with stakeholders to make sure that no particular person’s rights have been violated.
 
Further questions regarding particular particulars of the attainable contamination ought to be directed to the RIDOH.”
 

 

 

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Rhode Island

2 killed, 1 injured in Christmas Eve head-on crash in Foster, RI

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2 killed, 1 injured in Christmas Eve head-on crash in Foster, RI


Two people were killed and another injured in a head-on crash in Foster, Rhode Island, on Christmas Eve.

Police tell NBC10 Boston affiliate WJAR that they responded to the crash around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday on Hartford Pike and found two vehicles in the eastbound lane with heavy front-end damage, as well as three people with serious injuries.

An investigation shows one vehicle was traveling westbound when it crossed over into the eastbound lane in an attempt to pass several other cars, and struck another vehicle head-on, according to WJAR.

The driver of the first vehicle — identified as Aaron McCrory, of Danielson, Connecticut — was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead, WJAR reports. A passenger in the second vehicle — identified as Sandi Brooks, of Vernon, Conn. — was also taken to Rhode Island Hospital where she died from her injuries.

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The driver of the second vehicle was injured in the crash and taken to Rhode Island Hospital where they are in stable condition, police tell WJAR.

Further details about the crash have not been released.



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Rhode Island

Woman dies in Rhode Island car crash 1 month after husband of 58 years died unexpectedly

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Woman dies in Rhode Island car crash 1 month after husband of 58 years died unexpectedly


Two people are dead and another injured after a vehicle collision on Tuesday in Rhode Island.

Crews responded to the area of 212 Hartford Pike in Foster at approximately 3:15 p.m. for a two-car head-on crash with one occupant still trapped in the vehicle and not breathing.

According to WJAR 10, a vehicle traveling westbound crossed over into the eastbound lane attempting to pass several vehicles.

The operator of the passing vehicle, 34-year-old Aaron McCrory of Danielson, Connecticut, was brought to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

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The passenger of the second vehicle, 81-year-old Sandi Brooks of Vernon, Connecticut, was also transported to Rhode Island Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The driver of the second vehicle is in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

82-year-old Neil Brooks, who was married to Sandi for 58 years, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

While the crash was a terrible tragedy, we can hope that Neil and Sandi are together again.

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Rhode Island man to plead guilty to setting fire to Black church

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Rhode Island man to plead guilty to setting fire to Black church



Kevin Colantonio, 35, of North Providence, R.I., was arrested a few days after the fire at Shiloh Gospel Temple. He is expected to admit to targeting the church because of its mostly Black membership.

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PROVIDENCE, R. I. – A Rhode Island man has agreed to plead guilty to charges that he set fire to a North Providence church earlier this year, targeting it because of its mostly Black membership, according to court documents.

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Kevin Colantonio of North Providence was arrested a few days after the early morning fire Feb. 11 at Shiloh Gospel Temple, a Pentecostal church.

He admitted to buying a Bic lighter and gasoline at a nearby Cumberland Farms shortly before midnight, pouring the gasoline around the outside of the church and igniting it, according to a plea agreement filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Providence.

Colantonio’s actions caused church services to be cancelled, according to court records, preventing its congregants from their free exercise of religion. He stipulated he chose the church because of actual or perceived color, race, religion, national origin or ethnicity of its members.

Surveillance video, information from witnesses and a bank card helped lead police to Colantonio. Investigators said they found racist writings in Colantonio’s apartment. Prosecutors read from one of them during Colantonio’s initial court appearance four days after the fire. It said: “Hunt them down. Gun everyone who isn’t white.”

Colantonio has also agreed to plead guilty to charges that he threw feces and urine at two prison guards who were delivering his breakfast on March 4 at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, court papers show.

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Colantonio was charged with damage to a religious property, malicious damage by means of fire and two counts of assault of a federal officer. The first two counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The second count requires a minimum sentence of five years.

The arson unnerved the church community, which has about 100 members, and drew intense police scrutiny. Pastor Eric Perry said the fire could have been fatal if the church had been holding a service when it was set.



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