City Man Found With 18 Grams Of Crack, 10 Pitbulls

Juan Carlos Olivio, 33 of 95 Rathbun Street was arrested on Tuesday for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver in an investigation which led officers to a five room apartment filled with ten pitbull dogs.

No one was injured in the arrest, which was the result of a several month investigation initiated by the Woonsocket Police Vice Unit. Complaints of suspicious activity at the residence, consistent with what officers often find in drugs sales, prompted the investigation.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Olivio’s residence in the 2nd floor left apartment unit. Around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Woonsocket Police Special Reaction assisted in the execution of the warrant and located Olivio inside the five room apartment along with the 10 dogs.

"We had an idea that there were two of three dogs there," said Det Lt. Eugene Jalette. The ten animals, however, were a surprise to police.

"There were a couple that were aggressive. There was no issue of anyone being attacked, but it was potentially a very dangerous situation," Jalette said.

Once the dogs were restrained, with the assistance of the Animal Control Officers, the apartment was searched. Police located about 18 grams of crack cocaine, packaging and processing material for crack cocaine, and about $2,000 dollars cash.

In addition to the drug charges Olivio was cited with 10 counts of keeping an unlicensed dog, nine counts of dogs permitted, and 10 counts of keeping an unvaccinated dog. 

All the dogs were removed from the apartment and brought to the animal shelter.   The raid was considered extremely successful as it involved many potentially dangerous animals. The officers reportedly used extreme restraint in handling the situation and no people or animals were injured.

Olivio was arraigned in District Court Tuesday evening and is being held without bail.