FIRE OFFICIAL SUSPENDED OVER DRUG ALLEGATIONS IN RHODE ISLAND CHARLESTOWN, RHODE ISLAND - The governing board of the Charlestown-Richmond, Rhode Island Volunteer Fire Company has suspended the membership of an assistant chief who was arrested Friday on drug-related charges.

Rhode Island Fire Chief Thomas Burdick said the company's board of engineers decided Tuesday night to suspend Keith Boisvert, 26, of 107 Columbia Heights, from all activities.

"The suspension will run until his court case is resolved," Burdick said.

Rhode Island State Police uncovered a small bag of marijuana, a hypodermic needle, a metal spoon allegedly used to liquefy heroin, and pills identified as muscle relaxants in a search of Boisvert's vehicle during a traffic stop on Route 4 south in East Greenwich. The search came after Rhode Island police detected what they believed was the scent of marijuana, officials said.

Burdick did not comment on Boisvert's arrest, but said the five-member board would meet again to discuss Boisvert when his court case was resolved.

"It has to run its course with the court and the board," he said.

Boisvert has been Rhode Island deputy chief for about two years.

Rhode Island Troopers charged him Friday with driving under the influence of drugs, and two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.

A passenger in his vehicle, Michelle Clark, 20, of 660 Alton-Carolina Road, was charged with possession of marijuana. Clark also is a member of the Rhode Island fire company and also was suspended, Burdick said.

Rhode Island State troopers found a clear plastic bag containing a small amount of suspected marijuana, a metal spoon containing apparent remnants of heroin, a hypodermic needle, and a vial of pills later identified as the prescription muscle relaxant Chlorsoxane.

While detained at the Wickford Barracks, Rhode Island Boisvert waived his Constitutional rights, and admitted to snorting a bag of heroin prior to the traffic stop, Rhode Island police said. Boisvert told authorities he had an eight-year addiction to heroin, yet stopped short of claiming knowledge of the pills, Rhode Island police said.

After his admission at the barracks, Rhode Island troopers conducted a drug examination on Boisvert, who tested positive for a narcotic analgesic found in heroin.

Clark was released on $1,000 personal recognizance. Boisvert was released on $5,000 personal recognizance. Both will appear in Rhode Island Third District Court in Kent County, Rhode Island on Monday.

Boisvert's criminal record dates to May 1997, when he was arrested for possession of marijuana. In December 1997, he was sentenced to two years of probation and counseling on charges of possessing heroin, records show.

Burdick said Boisvert, who has been involved with the Rhode Island volunteer company since he was a teenager, was not an active member at the time of the 1997 incidents.

"There were periods of time he wasn' t active," he said.

According to Rhode Island state police, Boisvert could face more charges if the Rhode Island Department of Health toxicology lab identifies the burnt liquid substance on the spoon as heroin.