Not guilty pleas entered for 3 Providence, RI, police officers in drug dealing case
By APWednesday, June 30, 2010
Not guilty pleas for 3 RI officers in drug case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Pleas of not guilty have been entered for three Rhode Island police officers arrested as part of a large drug-dealing investigation.
A judge entered the pleas Wednesday on behalf of Officer Robert Hamlin, Detective Joseph Colanduono (koh-lahn-DWOH’-noh) and Sgt. Stephen Gonsalves (gun-SAHL-ves).
Hamlin and Colanduono were ordered to remain held without bail. Gonsalves was released on $10,000 personal recognizance.
The three officers were arrested in March as part of a state police drug investigation that has resulted in the indictment of 24 people.
The officers, who have been suspended without pay, did not speak during their arraignments in Providence Superior Court. A lawyer for Hamlin declined comment. Lawyers for the other two officers did not immediately return calls for comment.
