NK Police Log: Pair Arrested on Felony Drug Charges

Two Charged With Felony Narcotics Possession

Dennis McGovern, 45, of 47 Gibbs Ave. in Newport and Alycia Whitney Dougherty, 25, of 47 Gibbs Ave. in Newport were both arrested Feb. 25. on felony charges of possession of narcotics and controlled substance conspiracy.

On Feb. 14, police responded to 404 Devils Foot Road for a report of a woman slumped over a steering wheel in her car. Officers arrived and found Dougherty  at the scene, who allegedly told them she was just cleaning her car. According to police, she seemed incoherent and had a difficult time keeping her balance. Police found an empty bottle of Diazepam, that was filled in her name for 60 pills three days prior.

While speaking with her, McGovern approached police and said Dougherty was waiting for me as he was doing work in the area. Due to the fact that there had been a considerable increase in copper and metal thefts in the area, police searched the area to verify his story and found a sweatshirt with a prescription bottle for Lorazepam in the pocket. Upon counting the pills, police found 50 of the 90 pills were unaccounted for. That night, Dougherty was brought to Kent Hospital due to her incapacitation.

One detective followed up on the half empty pill bottle and found that it belonged to Dougherty’s friend who is currently in the ACI. Surveillance footage showed both Dougherty and McGovern picking up the pills. According to reports, Dougherty claimed to be picking the pills up for the man, but officials at the ACI said this was not allowed.

Warrants were drafted for both McGovern and Dougherty and the two were arrested on Feb. 25.

During the investigation, McGovern was also implicated in a construction site copper theft from August 2012 at the new Navy drive construction project.

Other Arrests... 

Ernest Owens, 47, of 136 Cranston Street in Providence was arrested Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. following a bench warrant for his arrest.

Police arrested Owens after receiving reports that he and another woman were attempting to solicit money from people in the Shell Station parking lot on Post Road. The pair denied the accusations and told officers they had just stopped to smoke a cigarette before going to Burger King for a coffee. After police checked the two in their systems, they found that neither had an active license and that Owens was wanted on a Third District Court bench warrant for failure to appear.