New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Thursday October 15th a Trooper working out of the Shelburne Falls Barracks was monitoring traffic on Route 91 in the City of Greenfield. At around 8:10 p.m. he observed a gray Toyota SUV pass his location. A registry query of the license plate revealed the registration on the New York plate to be expired. The Trooper caught up to the Toyota and clocked it traveling at 84 MPH in a posted 65 MPH zone.
The Trooper stopped the Toyota which had three occupants. The rear passenger, JOANNE MITCHELL, 29, of ST Johnsbury VT, was not wearing a seat belt. The Trooper informed the operator, LANCE HARPER, 28, of New York NY, of the reason for the stop. The operator gave his license and the registration which confirmed it was expired. The Trooper requested a tow for the vehicle. Another Trooper arrived as back up and the occupants were removed and the vehicle inventoried.
The inventory revealed a scale with white powder consistent with cocaine on it. Further investigation located 193 grams of cocaine, 180 wax bags containing suspected Fentanyl, a knife with white powder and a .45 caliber Glock model 30 with nine live cartridges.
HARPER, MITCHELL and the front passenger, JERMAINE TAYLOR, 48, of Brooklyn NY were all placed under arrest.
All three were charged with:
1. Trafficking in cocaine;
2. Drug, Possess to distribute Class A;
3. Conspiracy to violate drug law;
4. Carrying a loaded firearm;
5. Possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony;
6. Improper storage of a firearm;
7. Possession/carrying a firearm;
8. Possession of a firearm without an FID card;
9. Possession if ammunition without an FID card
HARPER was also charged with:
1. Convicted Felon in possession of a firearm;
2. Unregistered vehicle;
3. Speeding
TAYLOR was also charged with:
1. Convicted Felon in possession of a firearm;
2. Tampering with evidence
MITCHELL was also charges with:
1. Arrestee furnishing false name;
2. Failure to wear seat belt
Bail was set at $50,000 each. All three were transferred to the Franklin County House of Correction.
