BURRILLVILLE – A Warwick man with a long criminal record was arrested last week following an investigation that began when Burrillville police discovered a running vehicle – without a driver – containing a handbag holding guns and ammo.
Michael Lafleur, 36, is facing felony charges of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence, carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit and possession of a large capacity feeding device. Lafleur was also wanted for two Superior Court bench warrants.
According to his arrest report, the incident began on Monday, July 14 when officers responded to the intersection of Colwell Road and Club Lane for a report of a motor vehicle off roadway. Police on scene found a Ford Bronco that was unoccupied but still running. Witnesses told police they saw a man walking around in the roadway but the person was not located during a search of the area.
One witness later told police he had asked the man if he was ok, but he did not respond and just stared at him in a daze.The witness said the man flagged down every car that drove by and must have eventually found a ride.
Inside the vehicle officers found a Coach backpack with two loaded firearms inside – a .380 Ruger handgun with one round in the chamber and five rounds in the magazine and a 9mm ghost handgun with one round in the chamber, six in the magazine and no serial number. The bag also held an additional magazine with 15 9mm rounds inside, a glass bong and various clothing items. A single .380 round was also found in the trunk of the vehicle.
Police made contact with the registered owner of the vehicle, a 50-year-old woman in Hopkington, Mass., who said she let her friend “Michael T.” borrow it the night before. Her Facebook friend, Michael Thatman II, she said, was due to return it the following day.
Lafleur was taken into custody at his home in Warwick by the Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force and Burrillville police.
Police learned that Michael Thatman was really Lafleur – a man with a long rap sheet going back to 2008, when he was charged with obstructing an officer in Glocester. His charges in the years since have included domestic assault; breaking and entering; assault on an impaired person; driving with an expired license; violation of a no contact order; simple assault; wilfull trespass; simple assault; assault on a person over 60; attempted larceny; possession of a schedule I-V controlled substance; leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death; reckless driving; driving without the consent of the owner; fraudulent use of a credit card; conspiracy; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; possession with intent to deliver cocaine; possession with intent to deliver fentanyl; failure to stop for an accident resulting in damage to a vehicle; eluding law enforcement; and resisting arrest.
Many of Lafleur’s charges have multiple multiple counts over his 17 year criminal history and several of the cases are still pending.
On the latest charges out of Burrillville, Lafleur was arraigned with a $15,000 surety bond. He is due back in court on November 17.
