The scene is a jarring glimpse into the realities of the drug epidemic that plagues America.
Cranston, RI — The rampant hypocrisy and double standards often seen in the world of politics took a hard hit recently when police in Rhode Island, in a rare move of accountability, arrested a city council member who was found asleep at the wheel with a glass pipe in hand. Matthew Reilly, a Cranston City Council member, has since resigned from his position. In a one-sentence letter, Reilly said, “I hereby submit my resignation as the Ward Six City Councilperson, effective immediately.”
The event unfolded when police responded to a 911 call and discovered Reilly passed out in his car. Body camera footage released this week shows Reilly awakening with a start after an officer shook him awake. The scene is a jarring glimpse into the realities of the drug epidemic that plagues America — one that clearly knows no demographic boundaries and impacts all walks of life.
In the footage, the officer can be heard saying, “You were literally choking in your sleep. Someone was flagging me down about it.” To which Reilly responds with a defense about his sleep apnea, only to be countered by the officer pointing out the crack pipe in his hand.
Upon questioning, Reilly initially denies the presence of any drugs in his vehicle, a statement that police would later reveal to be false. They reportedly discovered crack laced with fentanyl, a deadly combination that’s been contributing to a skyrocketing number of overdose deaths, along with other drug paraphernalia in his car.
Confronted with the evidence, Reilly admits to a relapse, citing a recent tough divorce as the trigger. But it’s not personal woes that are at the heart of this matter. It’s the pressing issue of the fentanyl epidemic, a crisis that’s tearing through communities, irrespective of class or profession, and creating disturbing scenes like this – where a city council member is found unconscious with a crack pipe.
In an unusual show of police holding a politician accountable, possibly forced into it due to the severity of the situation and their body camera footage, Reilly was dealt with as anyone would be in similar circumstances, though criminal punishment for drug addiction is never the answer.
Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins, who has known Reilly since childhood, joined the public calls for Reilly’s resignation of his Ward 6 seat, which he said was in the best interest of the city, constituents, and Reilly himself. “Matt made the right decision to step down so that he can focus his full attention on his well-being and young family,” Hopkins noted.
In a poignant reflection of how the fentanyl crisis has penetrated all aspects of society, Hopkins said that Reilly had previously mentioned his struggles with addiction during council meetings. His council seat will now be filled in a special election organized by the city Board of Canvassers.
The arrest of Reilly, who earlier this week stepped down as chairman of his local GOP, is a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of the fentanyl epidemic and the crucial need for resources and solutions to combat this crisis.
Article posted with permission from Matt Agorist
