Newport Man Charged with Felony Drug Possession After Fight in Festival Field Parking Lot

NEWPORT, RI—A report about a man fighting with a teen sent Newport police to the Festival Field Apartments parking lot at 12:22 a.m. on Dec. 9.

Derek Mark Anderson, 20, of Newport, was arrested at 1:15 a.m. He was charged with felony drug possession/ concealment and with one disorderly conduct misdemeanor for fighting.

Police allege Anderson was asking bystanders in the parking lot if they wanted to see a gun and was later observed trying to get into vehicles parked near Building 5. He got into a fist fight with a teen and threatened to stab or shoot the youngster, police also said.

One responding officer saw a male run into a second floor apartment in the building. Anderson was picked up by an officer who saw him enter the building by the parking lot.

Anderson allegedly told police they could search him because he wasn't carrying anything. However, officers said they found a 2 mg pill in his possession. The pill was alprazolam, police said, and allege Anderson did not have a prescription for it.