Cocaine raid at Knightsville Pub in Cranston nets 4 arrests, including pub's owner

CRANSTON, R.I. — A drug raid at the Knightsville Pub on Wednesday night resulted in the arrests of three Cranston men on cocaine-distribution charges and the pub's owner for allowing the transactions, the Cranston police said in a news release.

Six vehicles at the 1669 Cranston St. location were searched and seized. Officers from Cranston's special-investigations unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration task force and the East Providence Police vice unit found about 48.4 grams of cocaine, $700 in cash, marijuana and Clonazepam pills.

A search warrant was simultaneously executed at 25 Ruth Ave. in East Providence, an address associated with the first suspect, where more narcotics and two handguns were seized, the police said.

The four will be arraigned in District Court, Warwick, Thursday morning. They are:

Jonathan R. King, 27, of 35 Hodsell St., on four counts of distributing cocaine, five of conspiracy and one of possessing Clonazepam.

Matthew F. Crosby, 27, of 153 Potter St., on six counts of distributing cocaine and three counts of conspiracy.

Michael Lanouette, 27, of 128 Turner Ave., on two counts of distributing cocaine and three of conspiracy.

Paul S. Troia, 48, of 986 Cranston St., who owns the pub, on one count of maintaining a common nuisance involving controlled substances.

— dnaylor@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7411

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