A shocking bodycam video has surfaced, capturing the arrest of a Cranston, Rhode Island city councilman found asleep in his car with drug paraphernalia. The incident has led to the councilman’s resignation from his political positions and entry into a rehabilitation facility.
The footage, released by the Cranston Police Department, shows an officer approaching Councilman Matthew Reilly’s vehicle where Reilly appears to be unconscious. In his hand, Reilly is gripping a lighter and a pipe. Upon waking, Reilly admits to the officer that he had just come from court.
During their interaction, Reilly reveals a history of addiction, stating that he had been clean for 13 years before this recent relapse. He attributes the relapse to a difficult divorce.
Concerned for Reilly’s well-being, the officer requests medical assistance. While EMTs tend to Reilly, the officer searches the vehicle, which is in disarray, and discovers a Chore Boy scouring pad in the glove box, an item often associated with crack cocaine use.
A subsequent test of the residue found in the pipe confirms the presence of crack cocaine. Additionally, a white powdery substance discovered on the driver’s seat also tests positive for crack cocaine. Based on this evidence, the officers on scene make the decision to charge Reilly with drug possession.
Throughout the encounter, Reilly expresses remorse for his actions and concern over the public and political fallout. He specifically worries about the impact on his family, particularly his mother. The officer assures Reilly that the police department is obligated to release only necessary information and that arrest records are public information.
Following his arrest, Reilly resigned from his position as chairman of Cranston’s Republican party and entered rehab. The city’s mayor called for his resignation from city council, a request Reilly has publicly honored. His next court appearance is scheduled for the following month.
