Cranston janitor arrested outside of school on drug charges

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Cranston police arrested a school janitor on the property of Garden City School after finding fentanyl in his cigarette box, according to police.

Police arrested 42-year-old Anthony DeSimone outside of a loading dock at the school.

The arrest occurred after school hours, around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the police report.

Police had responded to the school because of a call from a human resources officer.

That individual told police that the head custodian for the school found DeSimone unconscious during his shift.

According to the police report, the human resources director told officers DeSimone refused to go to the hospital and left the school at that time.

DeSimone then returned to the school to collect belongings, according to the report.

A booking photo of Anthony DeSimone provided by the Cranston Police Department.

An officer found a metal spoon with burn marks and needles on DeSimone during a search, police said.

Two small baggies of white powdery substance were found in a pack of cigarettes that police said belonged to DeSimone.

The substance tested positive for fentanyl, according to the police report.

DeSimone was arrested and is charged with possession of a controlled substance.

According to court records, DeSimone was released on personal recognizance.

His formal arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 30.

In police body-worn camera footage obtained by ABC6, DeSimone told officers he was fired from his job with Cranston Public Schools.

The police report notes that DeSimone was issued a no trespass order for all Cranston Public Schools.

In a statement provided to ABC6 News Friday, a Cranston Public Schools spokesperson said: “We do not comment on personnel matters. However, this individual is no longer employed by Cranston Public Schools. We have no further comment on this personnel matter.”