NORTH SCITUATE — Rhode Island State Police arrested two Massachusetts men Friday, March 14, on heroin charges following a traffic stop in East Providence.
State Police announced busts Saturday. The incident took place at 2:30 p.m. Friday when a member of the Lincoln Barracks conducted a stop on a vehicle that was speeding on Interstate 195-East in city. The occupants were extremely nervous and had conflicting stories of where they had been prior to the stop. A member of the State Police K-9 Unit also out of the Lincoln Barracks responded to the scene.
During an exterior scan of the vehicle, the K-9 showed a positive indication alerting to the odor of narcotics. The K-9 then conducted an interior scan where it again showed a positive indication alerting to the odor of narcotics in the area of the passenger side front seat. During a search of that area, troopers located and seized 200 packets of suspected heroin.
The operator is identified as Gary Couto, 35, of 3200 County St., Somerset, Mass. The passenger was identified as Steven M. Bush, 37, of 297 William St., 3rd Floor, Fall River, Mass. Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Lincoln Barracks and charged with the following: Possession of Heroin with Intent to Deliver and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Act.
Once at the Lincoln barracks it was also revealed that Bush had a Second District Court Warrant for Failure to Appear for a Cost Review on a Delivery of Controlled Substance Charge originating from the Portsmouth Police Department. Both suspects were held at the Lincoln Barracks pending a morning arraignment.