Rhode Island State Rep. Sanchez arrested on DUI charge

Matt Couture, Alyssa Azzara,

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Cranston police say Rep. Enrique Sanchez of Providence was arrested for driving under the influence early Monday morning.

According to Colonel Michael Winquist, Sanchez refused to take a breathalyzer test at the scene.

Sanchez was arraigned Monday morning.

He’s accused of driving under the influence of liquor.

A mug shot of State Rep. Enrique Sanchez after his arrest (Released by Cranston Police Department).

Sanchez was released on personal recognizance, according to court records.

His case is due back in court for a pre-trial conference on Feb. 24.

According to a police report obtained by ABC6 News, Sanchez was pulled over in the area of Reservoir Avenue just before 3 a.m. Monday.

The officer filing the report wrote that Sanchez stayed stopped at a red light, even after it turned green.

After being pulled over, Sanchez appeared “confused,” according to the officer, and tried to hand her a debit card.

The officer wrote in the report that she “smelled a heavy odor of alcoholic beverage” on Sanchez’s breath.

The officer said Sanchez asked if he could call an Uber if he did not consent to field sobriety tests.

When she told him he could not, the officer writes that Sanchez declined the field sobriety testing.

He was then arrested for suspicion of DUI.

The officer writing the report said Sanchez initially denied drinking, but later admitted that he did drink.

Sanchez previously made headlines for a run-in with Providence police outside an illegal “sip joint” in 2023, but was not arrested.

He represents District 9 (Providence) in the Rhode Island House of Representatives as a Democrat.

He was first elected in 2022.

ABC6 News reached out to Sanchez for comment. He has not returned our messages as of this writing.

This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Categories: News, Rhode Island

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