Town officials take law to front porch

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) -- Johnston town officials tried holding a disciplinary meeting in an unusual location Friday afternoon.

The town solicitor and other officials showed up on firefighter David Lashus's front porch after they say he's been ducking their attempts to hold a hearing with him for the last several days.

Rhode Island State Police detectives arrested Lashus last week after raiding his home and finding what they describe as an illegal marijuana-growing operation, cash, and several weapons.  

Lashus is a member of the Johnston Fire Department but has not worked since 2009 after reporting that he'd been injured on the job.  In the meantime, he has been collecting his $51,000 salary tax-free.  In the wake of his arrest, town officials tried to take action against him but Lashus refused to show up at Town Hall for a disciplinary hearing.

So, Friday afternoon, Mayor Polisena, Town Solicitor Billy Conley, and the chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments showed up on his front porch to try to conduct the hearing.

"We would have done it at the kitchen table, on the couch, wherever he would have wanted to hold a hearing," Conley said.  

Lashus refused to let the officials in but argued with Conley through a window for a few minutes before closing it.

Conley said the town will now likely move forward with the disciplinary process, which could mean cutting Lashus's salary, as they wait for the resolution of the criminal case.