By: Laura Soukkavong
Lawrence –Officers assigned to the Quality-of-Life Unit on Feb. 25 worked alongside the Methuen Police Department to conduct a directed patrol along the walking trail at Manchester Street Park. The patrol was initiated in response to ongoing community complaints and repeated calls for service related to suspected drug activity and other quality-of-life concerns in the area.
While monitoring activity near a tent along the trail, officers observed behavior consistent with suspected street-level narcotics transactions. Following further investigation, two adult males were detained.
A subsequent search resulted in the seizure of multiple individually packaged baggies believed to contain narcotics. Officers confiscated approximately 28 grams of suspected heroin, 9 grams of suspected fentanyl, and 16.2 grams of suspected crack cocaine, along with $381 in U.S. currency.
Both individuals were taken into custody and charged with:
- Trafficking in a Class A substance (28 grams or more)
- Possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance
- Possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance
This investigation remains ongoing. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.