Intoxicated Providence Cop With Fentanyl Crashed Into Cruiser: PD

PROVIDENCE, RI — A former Providence police officer is facing criminal charges following a crash involving a Rhode Island state trooper and two police K9s in a marked cruiser earlier this month. Stephen W. Kennedy, 31, of Cranston, is accused of recklessly driving under the influence and had fentanyl and a gun in his vehicle at the time of the crash, police said.

The crash happened around 11 p.m. on Feb. 4. According to state police, Trooper Daniel O’Neil had just finished a traffic stop on Interstate 95 North in Warwick when he pulled over on the grassy median just north of the Airport Connector. Kennedy, who was off-duty and driving a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, veered off the highway, crashing into O'Neil's marked cruiser. Two state police K9s, Ruby and Coda, a trainee on a ride along, were in the vehicle at the time, and were taken to a nearby animal hospital to get checked out.

Following an investigation into the crash, police believe Kennedy was intoxicated at the time of the crash, saying he was driving recklessly and showed signs of impairment at the scene. He also had a gun and an unspecified amount of fentanyl in his possession at the time.

Kennedy was arraigned at Rhode Island State Police Headquarters on charges of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possession of a schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl), driving to endangering resulting in physical injury and carrying a weapon while under the influence. He was released on personal recognizance and is scheduled to be formally arraigned in Kent County District Court on Tuesday.

While state police referred to Kennedy as a "former Providence police officer," it was not specified if he resigned his position or was terminated.