A West Warwick man is facing several charges after police say he was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs while also carrying a large capacity magazine.
Lawrence Cole, 77, is facing one count of possession of a large capacity magazine, one count of carrying a firearm while under the influence, and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol. Police say they received a report of an erratic driver on Main Ave in Warwick on November 10th, 2023, at around 7 p.m.
The reporting party told police that someone in a green Chevrolet pick-up truck was swerving all over the road and had hit a curb. When officers located the truck on East Ave, they found 77-year-old Lawrence Cole to be drifting between lanes and frequently applying his brakes. Officers smelled strongly of alcohol on Cole and slurred his words. He was unable to follow directions and field sobriety tests were not able to be completed. Police arrested Cole and took inventory of the truck. A . 380 Beretta semi-handgun loaded with a 13-round magazine, as well as 100 rounds of . 380 and . 22 caliber ammunition were located.
Cole is currently being held at Kent County Superior Court and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 10th.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
