Seekonk Man Charged With Cocaine Trafficking

A 47-year-old Seekonk man was charged with breaking and entering and trafficking cocaine after officers found him passed out in a Newman Avenue basement with drug paraphernalia strewn about the area.

At approximately 8:25 a.m. on July 5, Patrol Officer Scott Gaucher responded a report of breaking and entering at a Sanctuary Lane residence from a witness, according to the police report. When he arrived, he saw a woman in a white T-shirt looking underneath a car.

The officer asked the woman, Kelly Salisbury, 22, from North Providence, R.I, to come over to him. According to the report, she was sweating profusely and pointed to vehicles driving by and stated they were stolen. The officer's report said she appeared to be delusional and possibly under the influence of narcotics. 

Salisbury then pointed to a car in the driveway and said it was owned by her boyfriend, Anthony Vitali, 47, a Newman Avenue resident, who may have been assaulted and in trouble. According to Ms. Salisbury, she and Vitali were staying in a basement.

Officer Gaucher and Officer McDonald then called for rescue personnel to respond to the site. An ambulance arrived and transported Salisbury to Pawtucket Memorial Hospital.

Due to Salisbury's statements, Seekonk detectives and Lt. John went to Vitali's residence at 1280 Newman Ave., according to the report. Upon arrival, the officers saw a $20 bill on the walkway area in front of the house. A first-floor door to the residence was also wide open.

The officers entered the house and called out for Vitali. After checking the first floor, Officer Gaucher saw a pair of white clogs with blood stains on them near the basement door.

Upon going down the basement stairs, they saw Vitali lying on a mattress on the floor. After trying to wake him several times, he finally stirred with a terrified look on his face, according to the report. 
Lt. John saw a clear plastic bag with a white powdery substance sticking out of a leather-type bag. Paper money was also strewn about the area. When Vitali stood up, a crack cocaine pipe fell to the ground, reads the report.

Vitali was then handcuffed and transported to the Seekonk Police Station for booking. Detectives then investigated the scene and found prescription pills including Adderall, Suboxone, and Clonazepam. Vitali did not have a prescription for any of the drugs, according to the report. They also seized more than 14 grams of cocaine.

Vitali was charged with two counts of possessing a Class E drug, one count of possessing a Class B drugs, trafficking cocaine and breaking and entering.

He is scheduled for a pre-trial conference hearing at Taunton District Court on Aug. 24.