Connecticut Man Accused Of Stealing Car, Gun Found In Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, RI — A Connecticut man accused of stealing a car and gun was arrested by Smithfield police early Friday morning, said the department in a news release.

Police say they witnessed 20-year-old Ryhian Nunes of Hartford operating a gray Mercedes sedan erratically and at a high rate of speed around 1:40 a.m. on Pleasant View Avenue. A registration check revealed that the vehicle had been stolen out of Connecticut.

Officers pursued the vehicle and deployed stop sticks near Swan Road. However, Nunes continued to flee and drove into the town of Scituate, where the car became disabled on West Greenville Road.

Nunes attempted to flee from the vehicle, but was arrested after a brief foot pursuit, said police. He later admitted to possessing a stolen, loaded Smith & Wesson .380 handgun that he threw out of the moving vehicle.

Three passengers were in the vehicle during the chase, said police. Alijah Picart, 19, was held as a Fugitive From Justice for Vehicle Theft out of Massachusetts. Two other passengers, an adult male and a juvenile male, were released without being charged.