Woonsocket Police Arrest Man For Possessing Counterfeit Crack

Sometimes, you just can't trust a crack dealer — luckily for one city woman July 2 — not so much for her would-be supplier. 

At about 4 a.m., Detective Patrick McGourty was speaking with firefighters in front of Station 3 in the area of North Main Street when they directed his attention to a nearby convenience store, where they'd observed a lot of traffic in and out of the building, but often with the customers leaving empty-handed.
They also noted a man in a red baseball cap who would routinely exit the store, get into the back seat of customer's cars and ride down the road about 200 feet before the cars would pull over and let him out to walk back to the store. 

McGourty observed the man in the baseball cap, but didn't see him take any trips with customers. He continued on his patrol.

While in the area a short time later, McGourty observed a car traveling on the left side of Blackstone Street, then on West School Street, again on the left side of the street. He made a traffic stop and spoke with the occupants of the car. 
The driver, Deborah Tyks, 42, and passenger, Elvin Rodriguez, 35, of 105 North Main St., apt. 2nd, both appeared extremely nervous, according to McGourty's report. He also recognized Rodriguez as the man in the baseball cap from the convenience store. 

As he spoke with him, McGourty noticed Rodriguez reaching under his seat, and ordered him to keep his hands in plain sight. Once more officers arrived to help, McGourty ordered Rodriquez out of the vehicle and searched the area he'd been reaching for, finding a clear baggie of what appeared to be crack cocaine. He found a bag of a similar substance in the center console.

McGourty removed Tyks from the car, and another search of it before Interstate towing took the vehicle away. The detective found two glass pipes, commonly used for smoking crack, according to his report.

Both Tyks and Rodriguez were arrested and taken to the Woonsocket Police Station on Clinton Street, where the suspected crack was determined to be Ondansetron Hydrocloride, which is not a controlled substance. Although the substance was not crack cocaine, it was packaged to resemble the substance, McGourty reported.

Tyks was released without any charges. She was issued a citation for operating her vehicle left of center. 

Rodriquez was charged with possession of counterfeit schedule I/II substances, a felony.