Police Log: Man Charged with Cocaine Distribution, Woman Threatened with a Gun

Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., 29, of 143 Third St., Newport, was arrested around 9:23 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, for a drug distribution charge.

Police obtained two warrants for two units at 143 Third St. after a two-week investigation. Reports said the vice unit had purchased cocaine from Rodriguez.

When officers searched unit 2B, they reportedly found 45 individual bags of cocaine, $6,000 in cash in a safe and $920 in Rodriguez’s wallet. 

Newport man charged after leaving gun behind 

Carlton R. Meriwether, 29, of Newport, was arrested around 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, for a domestic assault with a deadly weapon charge.

Police were dispatched to the victim’s home after she reported that Meriwether had left a gun at her house.

Reports said that after the two had been in an argument, the victim refused to answer Meriwether’s phone calls. Around 12:30 a.m., Meriwether came to her house.

According to police repots, the victim told police Meriwether said, “Why won’t you answer the phone, I though you were here with someone else. I would have had to kill you both, I love you that much and I’m crazy.” She said he then pulled out a handgun and put it on the bureau.

The woman did not ask him to leave because she was afraid for her safety.

The next day, Meriwether left to bring his children to school. Police located him and placed him under arrest.

Domestic vandalism  

Cody J. Platt, 18, of Newport, was arrested around 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, for a domestic vandalism charge.

According to reports, Platt’s mother reported him to police after he took her cell phone and broke a glass coffee table.

Reports said the two had been arguing over his child support card because Platt did not think his mother was using it properly.

Other arrests 

• Xavier Peralta, 19, of 49 Arlington St., Menthuen, Mass., was arrested around 1:40 a.m. on Friday, March 22, for a first-offense DUI charge.
• Rosalie E. Beach, 21, of 38 Brewer St., Newport, was arrested around 4:10 a.m. on Friday, March 22 for four simple assault charges.

The above reports detail arrests made by the Newport Police Department. Descriptions of all events are based solely on police officer reports provided to Patch. 

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