Video shows suspect in Cigar World robbery

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who broke into and robbed Cranston’s Cigar World on Labor Day evening.

Surveillance video posted to the Cranston Police Department’s Facebook page shows the man, who is wearing a baseball cap and covers much of his face with his shirt, hurriedly opening the register at the 686 Reservoir Ave. business and taking all of the cash.  

According to the timestamp on the video, the incident occurred at approximately 6:23 p.m. on Sept. 7.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity is asked to contact Detective John Ryan at 401-942-2211, ext. 5066.

Man sought on warrant

Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the subject of an arrest warrant.

Jordan Lavallee, 21, is wanted on a felony charge of domestic vandalism (third offense) and one count of domestic disorderly conduct, according to a message posted by Cranston police on social media. His last known address was in the city’s Mayfield Avenue area, the posting states, and he may be driving a black 2004 Acura TL with Rhode Island registration 368-349.

Anyone with information regarding Lavallee’s whereabouts is asked to contact Cranston police at 401-942-2211. Information can also be submitted anonymously online through “TipSoft” (https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtipsstart.aspx).

NY men arrested on heroin charges

Two New York residents are facing drug charges after Rhode Island State Police seized four kilograms of heroin during a recent motor vehicle stop on Route 95 in Warwick.

According to state police, a trooper stopped a northbound vehicle with Maryland plates at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 9. The vehicle had a cancelled registration, police said.

The trooper “detected the smell of marijuana from the interior of the vehicle,” according to police, and the driver and passenger gave conflicting responses regarding their point of origin and destination. The trooper requested additional assistance, and a Warwick K9 unit that responded to the scene indicated narcotics were present.

The vehicle and its occupants were then taken to the Wickford Barracks for further investigation, at which point the operator’s New York driver’s license was found to be suspended.

“A subsequent probable cause and inventory search revealed a box containing numerous bottles of Ensure,” reads a release from state police. “Within the box, beneath the Ensure bottles were eight (8) white shiny packages labeled ‘Cafecito Rico.’ Inside these packages was a brown powdery substance which is consistent with heroin. It was field tested and gave a positive indication of heroin. The approximate weight of the heroin seizure was four (4) kilos.”

The operator of the vehicle, Kalen Antoine, 23, of 182 Brown Ave. in Hempstead, N.Y., is charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, operating on a suspended license, and driving while in possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned in Third District Court and ordered held pending a Sept. 24 bail hearing.

The passenger, Sergio Torres, 20, of 91 8th Ave. in West Babylon, N.Y., is charged with possession of heroin with intent to deliver. He was also arraigned and held pending a Sept. 24 bail hearing.

“I commend the great work of our State Police in preventing these drugs from reaching Rhode Island families, and want to acknowledge the important job our men and women in uniform do every day to confront our overdose epidemic,” Gov. Gina Raimondo states in the press release. “Like many states, we are losing far too many people to addiction and overdose. Our State Police are critical partners in our efforts to work across state agencies to save lives and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

“Getting such a large quantity of drugs off the streets is an enormous success for the State Police, and for all of Rhode Island. This is great news for everyone who is working to combat Rhode Island’s drug overdose crisis,” said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “The State Police are vital partners of the Department of Health, and are crucial to the statewide collaboration to address the drug overdose epidemic. This is one more example of how their vigilance on this issue is saving lives.”