City man arrested on drug, firearms charges
WOONSOCKET – A man linked to a violent assault in Providence was arrested Friday morning on drug and firearms charges by members of the Woonsocket and Providence police departments.
Christian J. Page, 23, of 46 Campeau St., is charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a controlled substance crime and possession of more than 11 ounces of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
Police reports say a Mercedes registered to Page’s mother caused him to become “a possible suspect” in an assault in Providence that left the victim with life-threatening injuries, but Page is facing no charges in connection with such an offense, according to the judiciary’s database.
At about 4 a.m., however, Providence police were outside Page’s house at 36 Campeau St. with their weapons drawn. As local police arrived, the Providence detectives told them Page had already come out of the house, displaying a handgun in his waistband, acting “confrontational and nervous.”
When they identified themselves as police, Page retreated into the house.
Moments later, his mother appeared at the door and told them her son would be surrendering.
“You guys, you can get the gun, my mom will show you where my room is,” Page allegedly told Officer Joseph Wasilewski as he was escorted from the house.
Police later found a loaded .22-caliber handgun in the top drawer of his dresser and a large bag containing marijuana. Police also seized 17 packets of THC extract and two glassine bags containing a quantity of pills that were labeled “hallucinogens,” officers said. He wasn’t charged with any offenses stemming from the seizure of the extract or the pills, but police said the pharmaceuticals were sent to a toxicology lab for further testing and that Page could face additional charges.
The crime that led Providence police to come looking for him was a felony assault that Page was allegedly tied to via the Mercedes. The offense is not believed to have involved a firearm, but a spokeswoman for the department declined to provide any details.
“The incident you are referring to is still under investigation,” Lindsay Lague, public information officer for Providence police, said via email.
Officer Wasilewski and Officer Joshua M. Martineau – the local police – filed a report indicating they made contact with Page at his house about 2:27 Friday morning, nearly two hours before Providence police arrived, to question him about a silver 2015 Mercedes that matched the description of a vehicle involved in a felony assault in Providence.
Page said the car belonged to his mother and that he didn’t’ have permission to use it. Page told the officers he’d been on Federal Hill with friends earlier in the evening, but at some point he stopped answering questions. So Wasilewski and Martineau informed their counterparts in Providence what they found out and left without making an arrest at that time.
Bail was set at $10,000 with surety, or $1,000 cash, when Page made an initial appearance before a judge in Sixth District Court later Friday. He was released after the bond was posted by his mother, according to the judiciary’s web site.
Page was arrested for felony assault and breaking and entering by the Woonsocket police in 2014, but the charges were later withdrawn by state prosecutors. It’s the only other prior arrest on his record, save for a 2013 run-in with local police for driving on a suspended license.
He’s due back in court for another hearing on the new charges July 19.