Police Make Two Heroin-Related Arrests in Three Days

Portsmouth Police recently arrested two women for felony narcotics possession in two separate incidents during which they allegedly were driving erratically through town in rental cars.

On Monday, police charged a 27-year-old Warwick woman with felony drug possession and reckless driving after officers found crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the rental car she allegedly was driving without permission.

Police said at around 5:50 p.m., Ashley Gail Sass, of 25 Sundance St., Warwick, was seen driving the Dodge Avenger with Georgia plates moments after officers were dispatched to the Xtra Mart on West Main Road for a report that the car was spotted there.

Sass reportedly did not immediately pull over and appeared to be throwing items from the car, which she continued to drive all the way onto Route 24.

During the pursuit, police said, Sass drove in and out of her lane, partially in the breakdown lane and passed numerous motorists who were trying to get out of the way for police trailing behind.

Police said Sass finally stopped on Route 24 and once in custody, officers found four hypodermic needles, a spoon, about a gram of crack cocaine and an empty baggie police believed had contained heroin.

Along with the drug and reckless driving charges, police said Sass was issued traffic summons for driving in the brakedown lane and other violations as well as a District Court summons for driving with a suspended license and eluding police.

Sass remains held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston as a bail violator stemming from charges of possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver out of West Warwick.

She is due to return to court on Dec. 9 for a status conference and Jan. 15 for an Attorney General screening.

On Saturday, police charged Mandy Jennifer Byrnes, 26, of 661 Metacom Ave., Bristol, with felony narcotics possession after she was stopped for driving erratically and an officer found drugs in the rental car she was driving.

Police said the officer could see a metal spoon sticking out from under Byrnes’ thigh and a cotton ball in her lap as she opened and closed her center console to retrieve paperwork.

A search of the car turned up needles, two small baggies with heroin residue and other drug paraphenelia.

Police said they also found another small baggie with heroin residue in the police booking room after she had been processed. Byrnes told police it was on her boot and must have fallen off.