Man Charged after 911 Hang Up Call at Newport Inn

NEWPORT, RI—A 39-year-old Woonsocket man was arrested by Newport police Wednesday night after officers responded to a 911 hang up call and he allegedly was combative and aggressive with officers.

Police said Everett Massotti was charged with obstruction of justice, resisting arrest and domestic disorderly conduct at around 10:45 p.m. after they responded to the Cliffside Inn on Seaview Avenue.

According to a police report, police heard the muffled sound of a woman’s voice and Massotti saying “I will drop you like a bad habit” through the door to the room in which he and a woman were staying.

The overheard comment, the 911 call and the woman’s voice prompted police to get a key to the room and go inside to make sure nobody was at risk.

Inside, police said Massotti was argumentative, disruptive and behaved in such a way as to make police feel threatened.

Police said the woman in the room did not appear to have any injuries and there was no indication that any violence had occurred in the room. But his actions during the investigation warranted his arrest, police said.

Police had to forcibly restrain Massotti to complete the arrest and he reportedly told one officer that he would stab him in the throat as he was being driven to police headquarters for booking.

Massotti was held overnight for arraignment Thursday.