By Tiffany Williams –
HOLYOKE, Mass. — A flood of citizen complaints about open-air drug dealing near a public park has now led to arrests, seized narcotics and more than $1,200 in cash taken off the streets.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan announced on Friday February 6th that members of the Holyoke Police Narcotics/Vice Unit, working alongside Task Force Officers from the Western Massachusetts FBI Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Strategic Action & Focused Enforcement Task Force, seized 122 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl along with cocaine, crack-cocaine and cash in response to quality-of-life concerns around Soucy Park.
Let’s be clear about what triggered this crackdown: residents and business owners sounding the alarm. Complaints about open-air narcotics distribution in and around Soucy Park. Complaints about activity near Cabot/Main and Clemente Streets. Families live there. Businesses operate there. And according to police, drug deals were happening in plain sight.
For several weeks, Holyoke Detectives investigated illegal narcotics distribution in that area. On Friday morning, Detectives and Task Force Officers observed what they believed were drug deals unfolding.
They moved in.
Officers approached one subject and recovered approximately 12 bags of suspected fentanyl/heroin. That individual was offered addiction services and later released.
Then the focus shifted to three other individuals suspected of distributing drugs: Felix Gonzalez, Matthew Peterson and Jessica Holmes.
Detectives say they immediately located approximately seven bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl on the ground between Gonzalez and Holmes.
From Peterson, Detectives and Officers recovered 15 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, nine vials of suspected crack-cocaine, 19 vials of suspected cocaine and $1009 in cash.
From Gonzalez, Detectives and Officers recovered 10 bundles — 100 bags — of suspected heroin/fentanyl during the booking process and $215 in cash.
In total, authorities report seizing 122 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl along with cocaine and crack-cocaine, and more than $1,200 in cash.
Three people were placed under arrest.
Matthew Peterson, 39, of Ware is charged with Distribution of a Class A Drug, Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug, Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug, Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law, Possession of a Class A Drug and Possession of a Class B Drug.
Felix Gonzalez, 40, of Holyoke is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug, Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law and Possession of a Class A Drug.
Jessica Holmes, 30, of Brookfield is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug, Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law and Possession of a Class A Drug.
This was not a lone patrol officer stumbling onto a single bag. This was a coordinated operation involving local detectives and federal and county task forces. The focus: narcotics allegedly being sold openly in a public park area after weeks of complaints.
Police say the investigation was driven by quality-of-life concerns. Soucy Park and the surrounding streets are community spaces. When residents report open-air drug distribution, law enforcement takes notice.
On Friday, they acted.
Now three individuals face serious drug charges. More than 120 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl are off the streets. Cocaine and crack-cocaine seized. Cash confiscated.
And the message from law enforcement is unmistakable: when citizens speak up, investigations follow.