R.I. governor didn't want to raid smoke shop

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) told a state panel investigating the raid of the Narragansett Tribe's smoke shop that he wanted to go to court first.

But he was convinced otherwise, he said yesterday. "I was persuaded it was necessary," he was quoted as saying.

Carcieri was the first witness before the panel. He admitted there was a better way the July 14 incident, which was taped and broadcast on television stations throughout the country, could have been handled.

Col. Steven Pare, the superintendent of the state police, was the second witness. He said tribal members at the smoke shop resisted the state police.

State attorney general Patrick Lynch said he advised Carcieri to move as quickly as possibly because he said the tribe's tax free cigarettes were illegal. He said he didn't support Carcieri's attempt to negotiate with the tribe on its casino plans.

The Independent Review Committee will hear tomorrow from Narragansett chief sachem Matthew Thomas.

Get the Story:
Carcieri kicks off panel's review of smoke-shop raid (The Providence Journal 8/19)
Lynch told governor to act quickly against smoke shop (The Providence Journal 8/20)
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Probe of tribal raid starts (The Woonsocket Call 8/20)