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A 50-year-old New Bedford man with a lengthy criminal record who was arrested by New Bedford Police late last month on Fentanyl Trafficking charges was found dangerous by a district court judge last week, and ordered held without bail for up to 120 days, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Eddie Torres was the subject of a July 7th dangerousness hearing in New Bedford District Court after being arrested June 30th on charges of Trafficking Fentanyl, Distribution of a Class B Drug, Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws, Distribution of a Class B Drug–Subsequent Offense and Distribution of a Class A Drug–Subsequent Offense.
On June 30th at approximately 5:20 PM, undercover officers observed the defendant operating a gray Volkswagen in the parking lot of Burger King on Cove Road. Officers then observed the vehicle enter the Dunkin Donuts parking lot where it was met by another vehicle. A male from the other vehicle approached the window of the defendant’s vehicle and gave an item to the defendant. Officers subsequently stopped the defendant’s vehicle. As officers approached, the defendant shouted “f*ck this” and placed his vehicle in reverse, attempting to flee. Officers were able stop the vehicle by grabbing the gear shift and the defendant was taken into custody. Officers found a bag of fentanyl weighing 3.3 grams by the driver’s seat door and a digital scale on the driver’s seat. Officers then found a plastic bag of fentanyl by the driver’s side rear tire, weighing 13.1 grams, and a bag of cocaine weighing 14.3 grams under the vehicle. Officers also retrieved $1,880.00 cash from the defendant’s front right pocket.
The dangerousness hearing was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Fread and the dangerousness finding was issued by Judge Joseph Harrington.
“I am very pleased the court held the defendant without bail as a danger to the community. The defendant has a history of violence and has served significant prison sentences for manslaughter and attempted murder. At the age of 50, he continues to commit serious crimes. He just doesn’t get it, and belongs off the street to protect the public,” District Attorney Quinn said.
