Police say R.I. man had stun gun and drugs at Groton hotel

Groton — After a brief foot chase last week, town police arrested a man who allegedly had a stun gun and drugs in his possession.

Mark L. Pates, 32, of Wakefield, R.I., was charged Friday afternoon with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, interfering with an officer and carrying a weapon in a vehicle.

According to police, members of the Regional Community Enhancement Task Force were conducting surveillance at a town hotel when they observed “suspicious activity.”

As they were speaking to the involved individuals, officers learned Pates had an illegal stun gun, according to police. As officers attempted to take Pates into custody, police said, he took off running.

Police said they successfully apprehended Pates after a brief foot chase and later found heroin and cocaine packaged for sale in his possession.

Released on a $10,000 nonsurety bond, Pates is due Nov. 24 in New London Superior Court. on its side and a bedroom was ransacked.

According to police, the owner reported two firearms and $20,000 in gold coins stolen from the home.

Police said they submitted evidence from the scene to the state lab, which came up with a hit for Prue.

Prue’s bond was set at $10,000 in this case. Records show he has been in custody at the MacDougall-Walker complex since Sept. 28 last year.

Prue, who told police last year he has been breaking into houses and cars his entire life “just for money,” now has eight open cases.