URI Student Charged With MDMA Possession

Unless otherwise noted, information about the following incidents was supplied by the Narragansett Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

John D. Biamonte, 22, of 63 Kingstown Road, Narragansett, was arrested at about 2:55 a.m. on March 24 and charged with felony drug possession, drunken driving and driving while in possession of a controlled substance, and cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test.

Police said Biamonte is a student at the University of Rhode Island.

According to police, an officer monitoring traffic on Point Judith Road near Seaport Communications clocked a Nissan Rogue at 75 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone. A traffic stop was made near New Dragon Restaurant.

Police said the driver – Biamonte – smelled strongly of alcohol, and also had droopy eyelids. Police said that when he was asked how much he had to drink, Biamonte told them a six-pack.

According to police, Biamonte consented to field sobriety tests, which he failed. At that point, he was arrested.

Police said an inventory of Biamonte’s car revealed a backpack with a high school ID card of Biamonte, a small bag with a white crystal substance, several empty baggies, a scale and two $5 bills.

According to police, the substance field tested positive as MDMA. When Biamonte was asked if he was selling the drug, he allegedly told police, “I don’t sell, I bought it from someone.”

Police said Biamonte refused to submit to chemical breath tests. He was processed at headquarters and then released at 10:30 a.m.

According to previous police reports, Biamonte has had at least two past contacts with Narragansett police.

• In October 2012, police said Biamonte and two other tenants were hosting a party with about 80 people there.
• In December 2010, police said Biamonte trespassed into a man’s home, left his cell phone behind, and told the man his name. These charges were later dismissed in return for a donation to the Violent Crimes Indemnity Fund.

According to online records, Biamonte has no other arrests. Felony screening is scheduled for April 30 and May 7.

Unless otherwise noted, the information for this article was compiled from Narragansett police reports, which are available for review by any member of the public at their headquarters on Caswell Street. If we’re missing a call or report you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com.

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