NORTH SMITHFIELD – A Woonsocket man previously convicted of felony assault charges was arrested this month after police discovered a loaded 9mm handgun in the glovebox of his vehicle during a routine traffic stop.
Brandon Cooley, 31, of Woonsocket is facing new charges of carrying a pistol or revolver without a license, violation of a no contact order, possession of a firearm by a convicted criminal, and driving with a suspended license, following the July 1 incident.
According to reports, North Smithfield police stopped Cooley at Rock Cliff Farm condominiums after noticed his tail light was out. Officers discovered that Cooley had a no contact order with the passenger in the vehicle, no license and a suspended registration.
In the car, police reportedly found three cell phones and a black handgun inside the locked glovebox. One magazine with three 9 mm rounds was found inside the semi-automatic pistol.
Cooley told officers that he purchased the gun legally, before he was convicted of felony charges.
State criminal records show that in 2020, Cooley was charged with felony domestic assault, disorderly conduct, failure to stop for an accident and simple assault/domestic. In January of this year he was charged with domestic assault, disorderly conduct and refusal to relinquish a telephone.
He was released on a $5,000 surety bond and has a pre-arraignment conference scheduled for August 20.
