Crime & Safety
Coventry Man Caught With 3 Illegally-Owned Guns: Rhode Island State Police
RI State police say Joseph Michael DaSilva, 47, was caught with a pistol, shotgun and a semi-automatic pistol. All three guns were loaded.
COVENTRY, RI — A Coventry man was arrested Thursday after Rhode Island State Police said he was caught with three illegal guns.
Joseph Michael DaSilva, 47, was charged with illegally possessing weapons as well as a prohibited large capacity feeding device.
State police said members of their drug trafficking unit began investigating DaSilva after getting information about a convicted felon illegally possessing guns.
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Troopers searched DaSilva and his home and took him into custody in his front lawn. State police said they found a loaded 9-mm pistol concealed in DaSilva's waistband. In DaSilva's apartment, state police said they found a loaded semi-automatic pistol and a loaded shotgun.
DaSilva was specially arraigned at the Lincoln Woods Rhode Island State Police Barracks, as he had violated his probation, state police said. DaSilva was held without bail and was brought to the RI Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston.
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He was scheduled Friday for a formal arraignment in Third Division District Court.
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