Paul A. Nikas, Chief of Police
15 Elm St.
Ipswich, MA 01938
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Ipswich Police Rely on Training, Basics to Arrest Two Alleged Drug Traffickers
IPSWICH — Chief Paul Nikas is praising the Ipswich Police Department, along with several other local and federal law enforcement agencies, for their diligence in utilizing best practices in policing and investigation to remove two drug traffickers from the streets of Ipswich.
The following two cases began with the enforcement of motor vehicle infractions. However, through the specialized training, expertise, and investigative work of officers, the traffic stops led to the arrests of two suspects allegedly trafficking, distributing, and possessing large quantities of drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl.
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Ipswich Police Officer David Moore conducted a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle with a canceled registration. An on-scene investigation, aided by North Andover Police Officer Almanzar-Thomas, who acted as translator via phone, revealed that the driver allegedly gave Officer Moore a false name and a fake Social Security number.
As a result, JUAN DE JESUS ANDUJAR TEJEDA, AGE 28, OF BOSTON was arrested and charged with:
- Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle
- Furnishing False Name or Social Security Number to Law Enforcement Officer or Official
- Possession of False RMV Documents
- Trafficking Cocaine
TEJEDA was also wanted on two outstanding warrants out of Lawrence District Court for numerous offenses, including assault and battery on a household member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was held on $22,000 cash bail pending his arraignment in Ipswich District Court.
Additionally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementhas placed a detainer on TEJEDA.
Gloucester Police K-9 Officer Chris Genovese and K-9 Mako, along with Danvers Police K-9 Officer Justin Ellington and K-9 Stryka, provided mutual aid to Ipswich during the investigation and were instrumental in providing probable cause for a search warrant that resulted in locating the cocaine hidden in the vehicle.
This strong police work, which turned a traffic stop into a major drug arrest, echoed the actions of officers in December, when another alleged drug dealer was caught in Ipswich after being pulled over for a motor vehicle infraction.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, Ipswich officers conducted a traffic stop of another motor vehicle. An on-scene investigation once again revealed that the driver had given officers a false name, as well as forged motor vehicle registration documents and a fake Social Security number. Police soon determined the driver’s real name and found that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant from the Boston Police Department on several violent felony charges including armed assault with intent to murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.
RAMON SOLANO, AGE 48, OF REVERE was arrested on the outstanding warrant and additionally charged with:
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Furnishing False Name or Social Security Number to Law Enforcement Officer or Official
The following day, Ipswich police secured a search warrant for SOLANO’S vehicle after probable cause was established by Danvers Police K-9 Officer Justin Ellington and K-9 Stryka, and with the assistance of a Boston Police Sergeant who specializes in locating hidden compartments of vehicles used to smuggle drugs, found a compartment containing large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl.
SOLANO was transported to the Middleton House of Corrections and held without bail pending his arraignment in Ipswich District Court.
“Our Ipswich police officers are highly trained and adhere to the modern best practices of policing and investigations,” Chief Nikas said. “All of the officers involved in these arrests are to be commended for rooting out the lies and not only arresting two drug dealers, but also taking a significant quantity of deadly drugs out of our community.”
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