East Providence Vice arrests Riverside man on heroin, drug charges

EAST PROVIDENCE — Members of the East Providence Police Department Vice Unit arrested a city man for possession of heroin and prescription drugs on Monday, Sept. 8.

Joshua Ridondo, 25 and of 130 Halleck Ave, East Providence, Ridondo was arrested for possessing heroin, oxycodone, suboxone, alprazolam and clonazepam. Mr. Ridondo admitted to investigators that he didn’t have a prescription for any of the aforementioned controlled substances. He was transported to police headquarters for processing. Mr. Ridondo, who was on bail for another narcotics-related offense, violated the terms of his bail and was arraigned in Sixth District Court on September 9.

According to the report of EPPD Detective Sergeant Diogo Mello, the Vice Unit concluded a month’s long investigation into Mr. Ridondo and the sale and distribution of heroin from his Halleck Avenue residence. For over a year, the Vice Unit had received countless complaints from neighbors as well as information from Confidential Sources regarding Mr. Ridondo’s involvement in the sale and distribution of heroin in the Riverside section of the city.

Within that same time, officers and rescue personnel responded to 130 Halleck Ave. on numerous occasions for heroin-related overdoses. Monday’s arrest was one of the several made within the past year with a nexus to Mr. Ridondo and his Halleck Avenue residence.

After weeks of surveillance, observing heavy foot and vehicular traffic in and around the residence, as well as numerous hand to hand transactions, Investigators approached Mr. Ridondo and his girlfriend outside his Halleck Avenue address. In speaking with them both, investigators learned that Mr. Ridondo had heroin and prescription pills in a safe located within his bedroom.
Officers asked for and were granted consent to search Mr. Ridondo’s bedroom. In the room investigators located and seized two digital scales, five grams of heroin, 14 clonazepam, 20 oxycodone, suboxone and alprazolam.