New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
At approximately 1 a.m. today a Trooper assigned to State Police-Shelburne Falls was on patrol on Route 91 in Bernardston when he observed a speeding Chevrolet Silverado pass his location. The Trooper entered traffic and caught up to the Silverado, clocking its speed at 88 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone. He activated his cruiser’s emergency lights signaling the truck to pull over.
Upon the truck coming to a full stop the Trooper approached it and identified three occupants inside. The operator, BENJAMIN KENDALL, 31, of Vershire, Vt., informed the Trooper he did not have identification on him and explained that the truck was a rental but that he was unaware of who rented it. It was discovered on scene that KENDALL did not have a driver’s license and was placed under arrest. The Trooper observed numerous items consistent with the sale, use, and transport of narcotics then removed the other two occupants, identified as BROOKE ROWELL, 37, of Concord, Vt. and JESSE PEASE, 39, of West Fairlee, Vt., from the vehicle in order to conduct a search. Trooper Nathan Jackman and Officer Emily Rowell from the Greenfield Police Department responded to assist.
During the search Troopers located approximately 200 wax baggies containing a substance suspected to be heroin, approximately 10 grams of a substance suspected to be crystal methamphetamine, nine pills, and approximately two grams of a substance suspected to be cocaine. Trooper Greg Valentine then arrived at the scene with K-9 Kyber to search the vehicle. Kyber alerted to the dashboard area of the vehicle which was observed to have been tampered with after a closer inspection. Troopers searched this area and located 16 large bricks, each containing 300 bags, of a substance suspected to be fentanyl along with additional packages of heroin. It was also discovered that PEASE had an active warrant for his arrest. ROWELL and PEASE were then placed under arrest and escorted to cruisers.
All three occupants were transported to the Shelburne Falls Barracks for booking. A bail commissioner was contacted and set bail at $25,000 for PEASE and KENDALL, and $20,000 for ROWELL. They were scheduled for arraignment at Greenfield District Court on the following offenses.
BENJAMIN KENDALL:
1. Trafficking in Heroin;
2. Possession of a Class A Substance;
3. Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute;
4. Possession of a Class B Substance;
5. Possession of a Class E Substance;
6. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law;
7. Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle;
8. Speeding; and
9. License Plate Violation.
BROOKE ROWELL:
1. Trafficking in Heroin;
2. Possession of a Class A Substance;
3. Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute;
4. Possession of a Class B Substance, two counts;
5. Possession of a Class E Substance;
6. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law; and
7. Tampering with Evidence.
JESSE PEASE:
1. Trafficking in Heroin;
2. Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute;
3. Possession of a Class B Substance, two counts;
4. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law; and
5. Tampering with Evidence.
Massachusetts State Police photo.
