Coventry Man Charged with Cocaine Possession after Traffic Stop

A 29-year-old Coventry man is facing felony narcotics possession charges after he was caught with a small amount of the drug after a traffic stop in East Greenwich on Wednesday.

Police said Christopher R. Banno, 29, of 71 Station St., Coventry, was stopped shortly after midnight after he was clocked driving 43 mph on First Avenue in a 25 mph zone.

Police said they smelled burning marijuana inside the car and Banno reportedly turned over a small bag from his coat pocket and said that was all he had.

But a search of the vehicle turned up three more baggies containing more marijuana as well as a small digital scale and a medicine bottle that contained two clear pills containing a white substance.

A test of the pills tested positive for cocaine, police said, and Banno reportedly told police he found them at a club in Providence and wasn't sure what they were.

The total amount of marijuana seized by police totaled 6.2 grams. The cocaine measured .6 grams, police said.

All told, Banno was charged with felony narcotics possession and cited for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.