Crime & Safety

Cops Say Smithfield Car Thief Was High on Bath Salts

Jonathan Goyer, 25, of Harrisville, led police on an erratic chase through Cranston, Providence and Warwick in a stolen car while reportedly high on bath salts.

 

A man who stole a car in Smithfield and led police on a three-city chase that ended in a crash in Cranston was high on bath salts, police said.

Jonathan Goyer, 25, of 173 Main St., Harrisville, is being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions on three outstanding warrants he had before the theft on Tuesday night.

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At about 11 pm, when a Normandy Drive, Cranston, resident called police and reported that a car was parked in their driveway, "just sitting there with the headlights on," said Cranston Police Maj. Robert W. Ryan. 

Goyer was sitting in the car, which had been reported stolen out of Smithfield earlier in the day. By the time police got to the area, the car was gone.

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When police officers found the car, they reported that Goyer led them on a chase through Cranstonand Warwick, onto Interstate 95 towards Thurbers Avenue, south on Allens Avenue, and back into Cranston before he lost control and struck a street sign before sliding onto a grassy area near Narragansett Bay.

The officers who approached Goyer reported that he gave them "fierce opposition."

He was taken into custody after a brief struggle, Ryan reported.

Police said two arresting officers were treated and released for minor injuries and Goyer was treated for "superficial injuries" at Rhode Island Hospital. The officers "noted that Goyer's behavior was bizarre and violent and they reported he admitted to being under the influence of the synthetic street drug called bath salts," according to police reports.

Goyer is now facing charges brought by Cranston Police and the Rhode Island State Police of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, reckless driving, eluding police, multiple counts of assault, resisting arrest, and driving with a suspended license, in addition to the three warrants.

At his arraignment, bail was set at $10,000 with surety on the new charges.

According to online court records, Goyer had an active Providence Superior Court warrant for failure to appear at a Nov. 14 status conference on a felony charge of embezzlement brought by Johnston Police; an active warrant issued by Third District Court for failure to appear at a violation hearing on a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident brought by Johnston Police in April, 2011; and was awaiting a pre-trial conference on felony charges of obtaining a controlled substance and obstructing police brought by Cranston Police in October.


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