'Up in smoke' post office drug raid

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Months ago, the Target 12 Investigators received an anonymous tip claiming several postal workers were smoking pot on the clock, and on federal property.

The tipster also provided information about illegal painkiller sales at the facility. No one has been charged with sale of painkillers. But state and federal investigators set up their own surveillance and charged four men with possession of drugs.

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The Target 12 Investigators went undercover on West River Street in Providence, at the employee parking lot of the main postal facility for the state of Rhode Island. The lot requires a security card to gain access.

Target 12 knew where to be and when, based on a tip. The caller was concerned that employees were working at the postal complex high; putting the public and co-workers at risk.

• Web Extra: 'Up in Smoke' Undercover Video

Sure enough, our cameras are rolling at 9:50am. Three men, two in one car and another in a green pick-up truck could be seen passing a cigarette-like object back and forth.

Target 12 has learned the man behind the wheel of the car is Robert Reiner. We watch as he puts the object to his lips and then passes it to the man in the passenger seat of the car. We've learned his name is William Butler.

Butler takes the object and also puts it to his lips. They then pass it to a man sitting in the pick-up truck. We watch as the men pass the object back and forth for about 20 minutes.

One hour and ten minutes after Target 12 began their surveillance, the trio breaks up. They get in their cars and drive away. Reiner takes a short trip to a guard shack in the parking lot.

One week later, Target 12 returns. At the exact same time, we watch similar behavior. Again six days later; same time, same behavior. Then another day, we watch as it appears Reiner is reaching for something in the wheel well of his car.

He then carries it to the person sitting in the green pick-up truck. Reiner returns to his car to turn the steering wheel back. The truck then moves in close, next to Reiner's vehicle. And we observe the same behavior as the days before.

Special agents from the Office of the Inspector General and the Rhode Island State Police also investigated the anonymous tip. Last Friday, only Target 12 was there when investigators moved in, and made several arrests.

Lieutenant John Flaherty of the Rhode Island State Police tells Target 12, "Three of the individuals charged today are employees of the U.S. Postal Service."

According to Lieutenant Flaherty four men were arrested in the joint operation with federal agents:

• Robert Reiner of East Providence. He's facing charges of possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, prescription painkillers.
• Stephen Darigan of Glocester, charged with possession of marijuana.
• William Butler of Attleboro, Massachusetts, also charged with possession of marijuana.
• Kevin O'Reilly of Providence. He's charged with possession of painkillers.

Investigators say O'Reilly is a retired member of the postal service. The Office of the Inspector General tells us they are looking into how a retired worker was able to gain access to a secure parking lot.

But the three others are all "mail handlers" at the Providence Postal Processing and Distribution Center.

• Q & A With The United States Postal Service

The regional president for the Mail Handlers Union declined to comment, but says a mail handler's job can include operating heavy equipment like forklifts and other machines to transport mail at the postal complex. Mail handlers do not deliver mail to neighborhoods.

We met up with one of those workers, Stephen Darigan, outside district court last week.

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

Stephen Darigan: "No way, buddy."

Stephen Darigan: "I smoke cigarettes, I have nothing to do..."

Tim White: "I'm sorry, say that again?"

Stephen Darigan: "I have nothing to do with them."

Tim White: "So you don't work at the postal facility? 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."

The union president and the U.S. Postal Service also declined to comment on the status of the three, current employees.

But according to the collective bargaining agreement:

"An employee may be immediately placed on an off duty status (without pay) [...] where the allegations involve intoxication (use of drugs or alcohol)."

The marijuana charges are misdemeanors. Two men are facing felony charges for possession of painkillers. All four men pleaded not guilty last week and were released.