Resident involved in two drug possession incidents, house fire

Dec 1, 2016

Dartmouth Police arrested a resident for a second drug related charge this week, a day after the second floor of his residence caught fire.

On November 30, police responded to Bank Five at 136 Faunce Corner Road, where Matthew Caplan, 28, of 17 Swift Road, and his girlfriend Patricia Randall, 28, were passed out in the bank's drive-thru around 8:07 a.m., said police.

According to police, Caplan was arrested for operating with a revoked license, as well as for possession of Class A and Class E drugs. Randall was also arrested for possession of drugs, Class B and Class E.

This was the second stop for Caplan this week. Police first arrested him for operating under the influence of drugs on November 23. Police had responded to reports that Caplan was slumped over the wheel of his vehicle while stopped at traffic lights at the intersection of Dartmouth and Rogers streets.

As a result of that investigation, Caplan was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license, and possession of a Class E substance.

In an unrelated incident, Caplan was at home when a house fire errupted on November 29. JoAnne Caplan, Matthew's mother and the homeowner, met firefighters in the driveway with Matthew and Randall, and pointed responders in the right direction.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.