Rhode Island Teen Arrested In Tiverton Facing Gun, Drug Charges

TIVERTON, RI — A Rhode Island teen was arrested last week in Tiverton after police said he was caught with an unregistered gun, a knife, Oxycodone, and Adderall. Along with the teen, a Massachusetts man was arrested on a bench warrant.

Just after 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, Tiverton police pulled over a vehicle on Stafford Road at Hancock Street. According to police, officers learned the driver, Evan Goff, 24, of Taunton, MA, had an active bench warrant for failure to appear for a technical violation. Additional officers arrived and Goff was placed under arrest.

Police said neither of the two passengers had an active driver’s license. Both were asked to get out of the car, so it could be towed.

As one of the passengers, Mathew Melanson, 18, of Pawtucket, got out of the car, officers saw a knife in his pants pocket along with a second knife inside the door compartment he was seated next to, police said.

Police said Melanson moved abruptly toward his right pant leg as he exited the car so officers restrained him. Melanson then told officers he was carrying a 9-mm handgun, police said.

Police said they searched Melanson and found the loaded gun with no identifying markings or serial numbers, 17 Oxycodone Hydrochloride pills, two Adderall pills, and a knife longer than the legal length.

Melanson was charged with carrying a pistol without a license or permit, possession of a ghost gun/3D printed gun, large capacity feeding device prohibited, weapons other than firearms prohibited, and two counts of possession of a schedule I-V controlled substance (10 grams or less).

Goff and Melanson were taken to the Tiverton Police Department, where they were processed and held overnight. Melanson was arraigned in Second District Court in Newport and released on $40,000 surety bail.