Two women stopped in car had crack, police say

WOONSOCKET – Two women are facing drug possession and conspiracy charges after police allegedly intercepted them in the midst of a narcotics shopping errand.

Chantelle J. Antoine, 30, of Providence, and Mareen K. Candelario, 48, a city resident, were stopped by police at Park Avenue and Gilbert Street last Thursday after- noon.

The driver, Antoine, was behind the wheel of a blue Toyota Corolla bearing plates that belonged on a red GMC truck, police said. Her inspection sticker was also expired.

A drug recognition expert, Officer Michael Martinsen concluded that Candelario and a male companion who was also in the car were both under the influence of drugs. The driver told Martinsen she

had no idea who the male in the vehicle was, but she was giving him and Candelario a ride to get money.

A search of the vehicle yielded two small glassine bags, one containing crack cocaine and another a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, according to police reports. Officers also found a spoon with residues from “cooking” drugs in it and a glass crack pipe, they said.

Antoine was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance; driving while in possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy. She was also issued a summons to appear in the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal for adjudication of motor vehicle violations, including driving with a suspended registration and operating without an inspection sticker.

Candelario was also charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy.

Police said the male passenger in the vehicle was released without charges.