New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Troopers with the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit last night followed a car in Brockton and arrested its driver after they located 10 pounds of marijuana and a large amount of US currency in the vehicle. The amount of marijuana and cash found led Troopers to conclude that the driver was illegally involved in the sale of marijuana. Troopers charged DENNIS B. CORREIA, 30, of Boston, with possession of a Class D narcotic with intent to distribute.
The sequence of events leading to the arrest began around 9 p.m., when Troopers Ryan Walczak, Ryan Toolin, and Bryan Caccamo were working in plainclothes in an unmarked cruiser and observed activity consistent with the beginning of a drug transaction in a rented white Chevrolet Cruze in the area of Oscar Avenue. The Troopers attempted to follow the Cruze, but the two male occupants in the suspect vehicle suddenly accelerated to a very high speed and evaded the Troopers.
Approximately 35 minutes later, the same Troopers were patrolling on East Ashland Street when they observed the same white Chevy Cruze turn from East Main Street to East Battles Street without the operator using a directional signal. The Troopers pulled the vehicle and observed the operator turn into a driveway on East Battles, again without signaling. The Troopers activated their blue lights and siren, as the male operator of the Cruze immediately shut off his engine and tried to walk away from the vehicle.
The Troopers ordered the man to stop, at which time he re-entered the Cruze, closed the door, and began to move frantically around the passenger compartment. Trooper Walczak observed inside the car a large amount of marijuana in a vacuum sealed package, which he immediately recognized as consistent with a one-pound bag of the drug. Troopers Toolin and Caccamo detained the driver, later identified as CORREIA, and placed him in handcuffs for their safety. CORREIA was read his Miranda rights.
Based on the initial discovery of a pound-bag of marijuana, Troopers searched the vehicle further and located nine additional one-pound bags of the drug in the trunk and a large amount of US currency in the center console and glove compartment.
CORREIA was placed under and arrest and transported to the State Police-Middleboro Barracks and booked on the drug charge, and was also issued two motor vehicle violations. The total estimated street value of the 10 pound of marijuana is $20,000-$40,000. The total value of the cash found in the car was $9,142. The drugs and money were seized as evidence and logged as evidence.
