Unconscious, and trying to breathePolice found 41-year-old councilman Matthew Reilly from Cranston, Rhode Island, inside his car Monday. He was suffocating from it. fentanyl. In his left hand he had a crack pipe that he tried to hide when he saw the agents in front of his vehicle. They appeared there alerted by a person who gave notice that a man was leaving suffocating. They did not know that the man in question was a councilor, that’s why when they saw their documentation they were surprised.

Despite his position, as can be seen in the video, the agent tells him that he cannot let him go in his condition: “I can’t let you go, you were drowning“. Matthew tries to excuse himself: “I have sleep apnea, I’m sorry.” To which the agent reacts: “You have a crack pipe in the hands, so…” while explaining that he can’t pretend he hasn’t seen anything because he’s wearing a body camera that’s recording everything.

The policeman asks him directly since when he is consumingand Matthew alleges that he is going through a difficult moment: “I had a relapse, I had been clean for 13 years. I am having a hard time, I have recently divorced.” After that, the agent asks him directly if he has drugs in the car, and he denies it but when he is about to search it he finds a white rock of fentanyl cut crack. Its consumption is the main cause of death among those under 50 years of age.

Now, he faces criminal charges for drug possession. Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins calls for him to step down from public office and focus on rehabilitate: “I hope you can find a path to rehabilitation and the help you need.” For now, however, Matthew just has given up as Chairman of the Cranston Republican Party.