By Tiffany Williams –
Connecticut State Police on Saturday arrested a Rhode Island man gun and drug charges.
Just before 3:00 PM on Saturday, Troopers with the Connecticut State Police responded to the area of I-95 south in the area of Exit 92 for a report of disabled motor vehicle with the operator possibly slumped over the wheel.
“Upon arrival, Troopers located the vehicle and observed the male operator to be unresponsive,” Connecticut State Police said. “After a few moments, the male became responsive and was positively identified as Joshua West.”
Troopers observed indicators that Joshua West of Warwick, Rhode Island was intoxicated, and Connecticut State Pice said, “Throughout the interaction, Troopers discovered West was in possession of suspected narcotics, which later tested positive for the presumptive presence of fentanyl.”
During a search of the vehicle West was drinking, Troopers recovered a loaded .40 caliber handgun. Connecticut State Police said, “West did not have a permit to carry.”
West, Connecticut State Police said, was taken to an area hospital where he failed to perform to standard Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
Connecticut State Police also said that West attempted to punch a member of the nursing staff, but he was restrained prior to any injuries to medical staff.
West has been charged with Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol, Illegal Possession of a Weapon in a Motor Vehicle, Interfering with an Officer, Illegal Carrying of a Firearm while Under the Influence, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Breach of Peace in the 2nd Degree, and Carrying a Pistol without a Permit.