By Tiffany Williams –
Cops across the Northeast have had their hands full this week — from drug busts and gun seizures to deadly shootings and violent crime scenes stretching from Massachusetts to Philadelphia.
In Worcester, police say a routine traffic stop led to a major drug arrest Thursday afternoon. Around 12:30 p.m., officers pulled over a speeding car near Main and Chandler Streets and quickly uncovered what they say was a stash of drugs ready for sale. The front seat passenger, 21-year-old Armani Santiago of Worcester, allegedly had multiple baggies of crack cocaine and marijuana tucked inside a large black bag. Investigators said the packaging was consistent with drug distribution. Santiago was hit with two charges — possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute and possession of a Class D substance with intent to distribute. The driver and three other passengers were allowed to leave.
Just two days earlier, detectives with Worcester’s Crime Gun Intelligence Unit were patrolling the Lincoln Street area when they spotted a man wanted on warrants. During the arrest, cops say they found a gun with no serial number — completely untraceable. The suspect, 38-year-old Matthew Gambrel, was cuffed and charged with a laundry list of gun offenses, including carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession of a large-capacity weapon with a feeding device.
In Fall River, chaos erupted early Friday morning when gunfire ripped through a neighborhood near County Street and Eastern Avenue just before dawn. Multiple 911 calls poured in, including one from a resident reporting a bullet hole in their wall. Police say 28-year-old Thaddeus Quinones called them himself, claiming he fired shots at people who were following him. But surveillance footage told a different story — no one was chasing him. When officers searched his home, they say they found two handguns, several magazines, and ammunition. Quinones, who has no license to carry, was arrested and slapped with a list of gun charges including discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling and improper storage of firearms.
Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, troopers arrested 47-year-old Eric Isaac of Hillsdale, New York, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, after an investigation determined he sexually assaulted a minor in Coos County. Isaac, who was known to the victim, was charged with two counts of felonious sexual assault.
In Boston, violence flared again Saturday afternoon when gunfire erupted on Hiawatha Road in Mattapan. Police say three people — two men and a woman — were shot around 1:20 p.m. The woman’s injuries were initially considered life-threatening but she’s now listed in serious condition. The two men suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made, and Boston Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Tragedy also struck in Newburgh, New York, where a 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder after police say he shot and killed an 11-year-old inside a home on North Miller Street Thursday morning. Investigators believe the younger boy was playing with a gun when it went off, striking him in the head. He died at the scene. Authorities say they recovered a firearm and questioned three minors. Within 12 hours, the 13-year-old was arrested for second-degree murder. Police are still investigating whether the gun was brought into the home by the victim’s older brother.
In Philadelphia, a grisly discovery early Saturday has detectives scrambling for answers. Around 4 a.m., cops found two men lying near the intersection of Solly Avenue and Enfield Avenue — both zip-tied and shot in the head. Police say the girlfriend of one victim brought both men to the park area, though it’s unclear why. She’s now in custody. Two other suspects reportedly fled the scene in a teal or green minivan. No shell casings were found nearby, but police did recover a cell phone belonging to one of the victims just a block away.
Hours later, Philly police were back on scene — this time on Martha Street — after another man was gunned down around 8:30 a.m. He was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead minutes later. No arrests have been made. Investigators are urging anyone with information to call homicide detectives or submit anonymous tips to 215-686-TIPS.
From Worcester to Philly, police are dealing with a relentless string of violent and drug-related crimes as fall begins — and law enforcement officials say they’re just trying to keep pace with the chaos unfolding across city streets.