New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Wednesday evening members of the New Bedford Police Department’s Gang Unit were conducting street level crime investigations. At approximately 6:15 pm, detectives attempted to stop a black Dodge Durango. The vehicle fled from the detectives driving erratic and the wrong way on a one way street. The vehicle struck a chain link fence at the corner of Bates Street and Healy Street where it came to a stop.
As detectives approached the vehicle they observed four parties inside. As detectives got two of the parties out of the car, the driver (Sarah Gada) drove over the chain link fence and fled with one of the other passengers. The vehicle fled in a southerly direction. By the time Detectives returned to their vehicle and set off to pursue the vehicle again they encountered the vehicle on its side in front of 559 Belleville Avenue.
This particular house sustained some damage to the front porch and fence which was more than likely the cause for the vehicle to roll onto its driver’s side. Fire Department deemed the structure as structurally sound.
Gada who was the driver fled the scene on foot and was not located. Woodard who was seated in the back of the vehicle was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital with minor injuries.
Detectives located ten bags of crack cocaine in the vehicle. Vehicle was towed and the four individuals are being summonsed and charged with the following.
Sarah Gada 36 of New Bedford
- Possession with intent to distribute class B cocaine
- Conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws
- Illegally attaching plates
- Failure to use turn signal
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
- Operating motor vehicle with a suspended license
Mario Vardaro 35 of Rochester
- Possession with intent to distribute class B cocaine
- Conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws
Nicole Woodard 26 of Fairhaven
- Possession with intent to distribute class B cocaine
- Conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws
Arjenis Torres 20 of New Bedford
- Possession with intent to distribute class B cocaine
- Conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws
Video by Carlos Pimentel Felix
