Chief James M. Spinney
2 Olde North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
For Immediate Release
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Chelmsford Police Charge Man With Heroin and Cocaine Trafficking
Second Man Also Arrested on Warrant for Drug-Related Charges
CHELMSFORD — Deputy Chief Dan Ahern reports that Chelmsford Police arrested a man yesterday on heroin and cocaine trafficking charges.
JUAN CARLOS MARINEZ-SANTANA, AGE 29, OF LAWRENCE was arrested and charged with:
- Resisting Arrest
- Interfering With a Police Investigation
- Trafficking of a Class A Substance Over 36 Grams (Heroin)
- Trafficking of a Class B Substance Over 18 Grams (Cocaine)
- Providing a False Name to the Police
- False Motor Vehicle Document
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Chelmsford Police were conducting targeted surveillance in the parking lot of the Drum Hill Shopping Center.
While in the lot, police observed a parked vehicle with a driver inside that appeared suspicious, and continued to observe the car as a second vehicle with three occupants pulled into a parking spot near the vehicle they had already been observing.
A short time later, the driver of the second vehicle exited his car and entered the Walmart store. At about the same time, the driver of the car that officers had been observing — later identified as MARINEZ-SANTANA — exited his car and entered the Walmart.
A Chelmsford Police officer subsequently entered the store and located the driver of the second car as he emerged from the store’s bathroom corridor and exited the store without looking at or buying any items from the store.
Based on their training and experience, the officers recognized this activity as indicative of a potential drug transaction, prompting them to approach the man at his vehicle and initiate an on-scene investigation.
As they spoke with the man, officers observed MARINEZ-SANTANA exit the Walmart and immediately turn around and reenter the store upon seeing the police activity outside. An officer then followed him into the store and saw him place multiple small plastic baggies containing a brown substance into his mouth.
After a brief struggle, the officer was able to get MARINEZ-SANTANA to spit out one of the bags, and saw additional baggies inside his mouth. He eventually spit out the rest of the baggies, and was subsequently taken into custody.
Chelmsford Police then conducted a more in-depth investigation and search of MARINEZ-SANTANA’S person which yielded $400 in cash and multiple cell phones.
A subsequent K9-aided search of MARINEZ-SANTANA’S vehicle led officers to find additional baggies of white and brown powdery substances.
In total, Chelmsford Police seized 26 plastic baggies containing 40 grams of suspected heroin and 15 plastic baggies containing 23 grams of suspected cocaine.
As a result of the investigation, Chelmsford Police also arrested the passenger in the vehicle that arrived during their surveillance, RAESHAWN FERGUSON, AGE 34, OF NASHUA, on a warrant out of Lawrence District Court for a charge of Being Present Where Heroin is Kept.
Both men were scheduled to be arraigned today in Lowell District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
###