West Warwick man charged with DUI, large capacity magazine possession

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a West Warwick man has been charged in Kent County Superior Court with driving while under the influence and gun-related crimes following his arrest by the Warwick Police.

On April 18, 2024, the Office of the Attorney General charged Lawrence Cole (age 77), by way of criminal information, with 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.

As alleged in the criminal information, on November 10, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., officers responded to a report of an erratic driver near Main Ave in Warwick. The reporting party claimed that someone in a green Chevrolet pick-up truck was swerving all over the road and had struck a curb. When officers located the vehicle on East Ave, they observed that the driver was drifting between lanes and frequently applying his brakes.

As further alleged, officers conducted a traffic stop where the driver (the defendant) smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words. Officers attempted to conduct field sobriety tests, but due to the defendant’s poor balance and inability to follow directions, they were unable to complete the tests. Officers then took the defendant into custody.

As alleged, officers conducted an inventory of the vehicle, during which they located a .380 Beretta semi-handgun loaded with a 13-round magazine, as well as 100 rounds of .380 and .22 caliber ammunition.

The defendant is scheduled for arraignment on May 10, 2024, in Kent County Superior Court.