NEWPORT, RI — Two people from Newport were arrested Thursday after police said they were caught with cocaine.

Glenda Mendez, 48, and Edgardo Torres, 26, were charged with possession with intent to sell a controlled substance. Mendez was also charged with using a firearm when committing a crime of violence.

Newport police said they learned Mendez and Torres were selling cocaine in the city and got warrants to search both their homes. During the search, officers seized 16 grams of cocaine, a SIG Sauer 9-mm semi-automatic handgun, and two loaded magazines, police said.

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Two universities were given the largest private gifts in their respective histories this past week. The University of San Diego reported it had received a $75 million commitment from Darlene Marcos Shiley, and the University of Rhode Island has been given a $65 million estate gift from the late Helen Izzi Schilling, an alum of the institution.

University of San Diego

The $75 million commitment from Darlene Shiley, which will be distributed over time, will create the Shiley STEM Initiative, an initiative intended to enhance the university’s existing STEM programs.

Part of the funding from the commitment will be used to create a new space on the USD campus to integrate engineering and the natural sciences. It’s expected to help enable new majors, minors, and certificate programs. In addition, the expansion will include flexible classrooms for collaborative teaching, “Makers Spaces” for students and faculty, expanded machine shops for STEM disciplines, and more labs and shops in biomedical engineering.

The gift will also support new scholarships, fellowships and undergraduate research opportunities in various STEM fields.

As part of the university’s announcement, USD President James T. Harris, III said, “Darlene Shiley is one of the most generous and kind individuals that anyone could ever meet. She’s always looking out for humanity and the best interests of our society, and she particularly loves our students.”

“We are a better institution because of Donald and Darlene Shiley and what they’ve decided to do for this institution and what they’ve done for this world. In our vision statement we talk about leading with love, and Donald and Darlene Shiley have always led with love, “added Harris.

Shiley, whose husband Don invented a prosthetic heart valve, said that “STEM fields touch all different aspects of our lives, and I believe they can be a force for good in our society.”

“I was drawn to USD because of its emphasis on a values-based education. This gift fulfills my husband’s and my goals and makes me feel like I’ve made an impact. Now I hope it helps future students take what they learn at USD and make a positive impact of their own,” she noted in the announcement.

The Shileys have been major benefactors for the university and the San Diego community over the years. Their prior gifts helped establish USD’s Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the Shiley Theatre, and the Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology.

University of Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island’s $65 million estate gift from Helen Izzi Schilling, a 1954 graduate of the University, will be used to create an endowed scholarship that will provide up to $20,000 per year for four years to high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math field.

“This transformational gift shows that alumni believe in our University and in our students,” said URI President Marc B. Parlange, as part of the announcement. “We are incredibly grateful for the Schillings’ support of our mission and our students. URI has never been in a better place, due, in no small measure, to our remarkable community—the students, faculty, and staff across our campuses and the extraordinary alumni who carry their URI experience with them wherever they go.”

The Schilling Scholarships will begin to be awarded to undergraduates applying to URI for the Fall 2025 admission cycle.

After her graduation from URI, Helen Schilling worked for many years as a registered dietitian, professor and consultant. Her husband, Frank Schilling, worked at General Electric where he became a vice president and was head of GE Medical Systems.

“My mother’s education in the sciences formed the foundation of a career that was dedicated to helping people, and that started at the University of Rhode Island,” Dr. Paul J. Schilling said in the university’s news release. “She wanted to make a difference for her alma mater, but most importantly for the students going forward. I am glad that my parents will be remembered for giving students a head start to achieve their goals.”

Three Rhode Island men are facing several charges after a multi-agency investigation.

According to police, on Friday, the Pawtucket Police Department’s Narcotics Unit with the assistance of the Pawtucket Police Special Response Team, Rhode Island State Police –HIDTA, and members of the Pawtucket Police K9 Unit, conducted court authorized search warrants on Calder Street and Benefit Street in the city of Pawtucket and North Main Street in the City of Providence after a narcotics investigation involving the distribution of Cocaine and Fentanyl throughout the City of Pawtucket and surrounding communities.

As a result of the search warrants, detectives located and seized a 10mm Glock Semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number, a Mini UZI semi-automatic firearm, a high-capacity magazine, approximately $18,000 in cash, approximately 600 grams of Cocaine, approximately 105 grams of Fentanyl, digital scales, cutting agents, and packaging material.

Based on the investigation, the following individuals were charged with:

28-year-old David Benevides, Calder Street, Pawtucket

1. Manufacturing/ Delivery/Possession 1oz.-1kilo (Fentanyl)
2. Manufacturing/Delivery/ Possession 1oz.-1kilo (Cocaine)
3. Possession with Intent to Deliver (Fentanyl)
4. Possession with Intent to Deliver (Cocaine)
5. Maintaining a Common Nuisance
6. Conspiracy
7. Distribution/Manufacturing in/near school

28-year-old Nigel Almeida, Benefit Street, Pawtucket

1. Manufacturing/Delivery/ Possession 1oz.-1kilo (Fentanyl)
2. Manufacturing/Delivery/ Possession 1oz.-1kilo (Cocaine)
3. Possession with intent to Deliver (Fentanyl)
4. Possession with intent to Deliver (Cocaine)
5. Use of a Firearm while committing crime of violence
6. Alteration of Marks of Identification on Firearms
7. Large Capacity Feeding Device
8. Maintaining a common nuisance
9. Conspiracy

28-year-old Evan Santos, North Main Street, Providence

1. Manufacturing/Delivery/ Schedule I/II (FENTANYL)
2. Possession with Intent to Deliver-Schedule I/II (FENTANYL)

The investigation is ongoing.