Tiverton Police Department
20 Industrial Way
Tiverton, RI 02878
Chief Patrick Jones
Media Contact: Capt. Michael Miguel
Phone: 401-816-4423
Email: mmiguel@tivertonpoliceri.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Friday, 02/17/2023
TIVERTON – On 02/15/2023 at 9:38 PM Officer Christian Martin of the Tiverton Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop on Stafford Rd. at Hancock St. A law enforcement inquiry revealed that the operator of the vehicle, identified as Evan Goff, 24 years old from Taunton MA had an active Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear for a Technical Violation. Additional officers arrived and Goff was placed under arrest. Officers also found that neither of the two passengers had an active driver’s license. Both were asked to exit the vehicle due to the fact that it would be towed from the scene.
As one of the passengers, identified as Mathew Melanson, 18 years old from Pawtucket RI, exited the vehicle officers observed a knife in his pants pocket along with a second knife inside the door compartment which he was seated next to. Officers observed Melanson make an abrupt movement towards his right pant leg with his hands as he exited the vehicle. Officers restrained Melanson and upon inquiry, Melanson stated he was carrying a 9MM Handgun. A search of Melanson revealed a 9mm handgun with no identifying markings / serial numbers. The handgun was also found to be loaded with ten (10) 9MM rounds inside of a 15 Round Capacity Magazine. A subsequent search incident to arrest revealed seventeen (17) Oxycodone Hydrochloride pills as well as two (2) Adderall 30MG Pills on his person, both of which were not prescribed to him. The knife located on Melanson was found to be of prohibited length. Melanson was placed under arrest and charged with Carrying a Pistol without License or Permit (felony), Possession of a Ghost Gun / 3D Printed Gun (felony), Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited (felony), Weapons Other than Firearms Prohibited (misdemeanor), and two misdemeanor counts of Possession of Schedule I – V Controlled Substance – 10 Grams or Less.
Goff and Melanson were transported to TPD Headquarters where they were processed and held overnight. Melanson was arraigned in 2nd District Court in Newport and released on $40,000 surety bail.
