Coventry Man Arrested Twice Within Three Hours for DUI and Weapons Charges

COVENTRY, RI — Police are investigating a possible threat against an officer by a Coventry man arrested for Drunken Driving early Thursday morning. According to police, Shawn Lavoie, 25, is suspected of firing an automatic weapon in the area where a police officer had been recently driving.

Police reviewed his recent Facebook posts and noted Lavoie posted “All police deserve to***expletive*** die.” Investigators interpreted other posts as "racist and threatening" and directed at a police officer who had given him a ride home.

Lavoie was at the police station for a breathalyzer test after his car was stopped at 1:35 a.m. An officer drove him home, and he was released at 4:11 a.m. But at 4:14 a.m., officers responded back to Lavoie's house for "several bursts of automatic gunfire in the area."

Police said they found spent rifle casings on the landing of the front steps of the residence.

"The shell casings had been recently fired as they had melted the ice and snow beneath them," police said. They arrested Lavoie again. He was wearing body armor under his jacket, police allege, and he had fired toward the area on Greenhouse Road where the officer, who drove him home, had just been traveling.

The investigation is on-going and could result in further charges,including a review of whether the incident rises to the level of a hate crime.

Lavoie is charged with two felonies (Carrying a weapon while intoxicated; and Alteration of Marks of Identification on a Firearm) and one misdemeanor (Firing Across Highway).

After an arraignment at Kent County Court, he was released on Personal Recognizance and ordered to undergo an evaluation.