RI State Police Seize Weapons: Suspect Under Guard In RI Hospital

WEST GREENWICH, RI —A car stop on I-95 last Thursday ended with a suspect going to the hospital and police seizing loaded weapons, including high-powered pistols and rifles and a sawed-off shotgun, as well as a large quantity of illegal drugs. The driver, from North Carolina, tried to escape. He shoved a police officer into the highway, took off running across the highway and was brought down by a taser. He is at Rhode Island Hospital recovering from his injuries, state police said Tuesday.

According to Col. Ann C. Assumpico, state police superintendent, troopers also seized ammunition, smoke grenades, assorted camouflage gear, night vision goggles and a Taser, making this one of the largest seizures during a traffic stop "in recent memory."

“These lethal weapons posed a tremendous threat to everyone living, working or vacationing in Rhode Island,” she said. “We are extremely grateful to have these dangerous weapons off the streets, and we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute these and other weapons cases.”

State police also arrested Anthony Mondrez Thompson, 39, of Charlotte, N.C. He was arraigned Monday in his hospital bed and has been ordered held without bail. Currently, state police have him under guard at Rhode Island Hospital. He was hurt when he fled from the troopers.

State police stopped him on I-95 North in West Greenwich about 7:55 p.m. last Thursday.

"While handing over his license and car registration, as directed by the trooper, Thompson denied to the trooper that he had ever been convicted of a crime, and he further denied that his vehicle contained firearms or illicit drugs," police said. But the police soon realized he had a long criminal record. It included multiple convictions for firearm and drug trafficking crimes.

After police told Thompson to get out of the car, he allegedly shoved one of the troopers into the roadway and ran across the highway, toward oncoming traffic in the high-speed lane.

"After allegedly failing to respond to repeated commands to stop running, one of the troopers deployed a Taser, causing Thompson to fall to the pavement," state police said. He went by rescue to Kent County Hospital and was later transferred to Rhode Island.

A subsequent search of Thompson’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of eight high-powered pistols, a revolver, two AR-15 assault rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, numerous high-capacity rifle and pistol magazines, boxes of ammunition, military-issued smoke grenades, holsters, camouflage gear and masks, night vision goggles and a Taser. Troopers also seized about 15 ounces of amphetamines (MDMA with the street names Molly and Ecstasy) with a street value of about $3,400.

Thompson was arraigned in his hospital room on Monday on charges of:

1.) Carrying a Pistol Without a License

2.) Possession of Stolen Firearm (4 counts)

3.) Possession of Arms by a Convict in a Crime of Violence

4.) Resisting Arrest

5.) Simple Assault

6.) Possession of Schedule I-V Controlled Substance, with Intent to Deliver (Amphetamines / MDMA)

7.) Alteration of Marks of Identification on a Firearm

8.) Loaded Weapons in a Vehicle

9.) Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun

10.) Possession of Explosive & Noxious Substances

11.) Carrying Dangerous Weapons / While Committing a Crime of Violence

12.) Carrying Stolen Firearm when Committing a Crime