For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016

Contact: Tricia Tiedt
Office: 978-971-8101
Email: [email protected]

West Newbury Police Arrest Two for Attempting to Sell Drugs in Town

WEST NEWBURY — Chief Art Reed reports that the West Newbury Police Department arrested a man and woman for drug possession with the intent to distribute in two separate investigations within the past week.

LISETTE MARIE HAMMONDS, AGE 41, OF HAVERHILL, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 9 and charged with the following:

• Possession to Distribute a Class A Substance (Felony)
• Possession to Distribute a Class B Substance (Felony)
• Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (Felony)
• Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle (Misdemeanor)
• Resisting Arrest (Misdemeanor)
• Disorderly Conduct (Misdemeanor)
• Disturbing the Peace (Misdemeanor)

Last night at approximately 7 p.m., West Newbury Police Officer Danielle Burrill conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired registration sticker. While approaching the operator, HAMMONDS, Officer Burrill noticed that she was hiding a bag under her shirt.

Through an on-scene investigation, Officer Burrill determined that HAMMONDS was in possession of both heroin and cocaine and was intending to distribute both substances  in West Newbury.

HAMMONDS was combative on scene and refused arrest. She was arrested, charged, and booked at the West Newbury Police Department and held pending her arraignment at Newburyport District Court.

Officer Burrill was assisted by Groveland Police, Newburyport Police, and Salisbury Police K-9 unit at the scene.

On Wednesday, Nov. 2, JAMES O’BRIEN, AGE 49, OF NEWBURYPORT was arrested after a long-term joint investigation between West Newbury and Newburyport Police.

O’BRIEN was charged with:

• Possession to Distribute a Class B Substance (Felony)
• Window Obscured by Non-transparent Materials (Misdemeanor)
• Window Tint Violation (Citation)

The joint investigation concluded that on Nov. 2, O’BRIEN was driving from Haverhill to Newburyport via West Newbury with the intention of distributing heroin. During his arrest, Sgt. Daniel Cena found 3.5 grams of cocaine on O’BRIEN’s person.

“I commend the West Newbury officers who are making an active effort to take those distributing drugs off our streets,” Chief Reed said. “We are committed to making our community the safest place possible for our residents and our children.”

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