4 Arrested in post office drug bust

PROVIDENCE, R.I (WPRI) - Four men are arrested at the Providence Postal Annex, charged with possession of drugs. We’ve learned three of the men are postal employees.

Investigators say they were looking into allegations that the men were smoking pot, on the clock. The Rhode Island State Police and special agents from the office of the Inspector General conducted the raid Friday morning.

Target 12 was investigating an anonymous tip about drug use on federal property. Investigators made the arrests after following up on this tip.

Only the Target 12 Investigators where there as federal agents and state police swoop in on the employee parking lot at the Postal Annex in Providence. Four men were taken into custody.

Tim White: Were any of those charges postal employees?

Lt. John Flaherty: Yes, three of the individuals charged today are employees of the U.S. Postal Service.

Lt. John Flaherty with the State Police says for the past several weeks investigators have been conducting surveillance on the group.

“The allegation was postal employees were involved in illegal activity to include the use of substances on postal property in Providence while on duty,” said Lt. Flaherty.

Facing drug charges:

• Postal employee Robert Reiner, of East Providence accused of possession of marijuana and possession of painkillers
• Postal employee William Butler, of Attleboro, Massachusetts charged with possession of marijuana
• Former postal employee Kevin O'Reilly of Providence is facing a charge of possession of painkillers.
• We met up with the final accused postal worker, Stephen Darigan as he was leaving district court Friday afternoon. He’s also facing possession of marijuana charges.

Tim White: Sir, were you smoking on the job at the postal facility?

Stephen Darigan: No way buddy.

Tim White: I’m sorry say that again

Stephen Darigan: I have nothing to do with that.

Tim White: Do you or did you used to work at the postal facility?

Stephen Darigan: I don’t think it’s any of your business. Have a nice day.

Investigators say Darigan and the two other current workers are mail handlers. They work inside the providence facility and not out delivering mail.

A spokesperson for the office of the inspector general tells Target 12 they will pass the details of their investigation onto the U.S. Postal Service to determine any job action.

The spokesperson also stressed that the vast majority of postal workers are good hardworking people. All four men pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released.