Police Arrest 4 in Monument Square Drug Case

Police have made several arrests in the last week in connection to alleged drug activity at 14 Monument Square. Four individuals have been taken into custody on charges of possession of a Class A drug with an intent to distribute. 

During a sweep of a basement apartment at that address, police found large amounts of hypodermic needles and plastic bags containing drug residue. Police also recovered:

• Tan powder believed to be heroin;
• A spoon with loose heroin underneath a bed;
• Chore boy paraphernalia from a window sill
• Two separate notebooks (or drug ledgers) with different names and amounts documented;
• Loose heroin on pieces of paper in a kitchen cabinet;
• Naproxen and Zolpidem pills.

The following individuals were arrested: Lorraine Hollien of 20 Polk St., Michael Cain, of 14 Monument Square, Kevin Stack of 245 Berry St. in North Andover, and Paquale Nappi of 113 Dudley St. in Medford. All four were arrested on charges of possession of Class A drugs with an intent to distribute. 

Police had received several tips about alleged drug deals at 14 Monument Square, prior to the arrests. 

Around 1 p.m. on Monday, June 27 an undercover officer attempted to purchase heroin from a basement apartment at the property. The officer knocked on the door and used "common street terminology" to communicate with a man inside about purchasing narcotics, according to a police report.

The man in the apartment said he didn't recognize the undercover officer, and declined to open the door. "I ain't tryin' to sweat you. I'm just trying to get some," the undercover officer said. He told the man in the apartment that he'd be back with another person who could vouch for him, and left. 

A team of surveillance officers continued to watch the house and observed two of the suspects leave shortly afterward, including one who has been arrested in the past for drug violations, according to the police report. Police followed the individuals to the Bunker Hill Housing Development, where they police believe they conducted a street-level drug deal. They then walked toward Nearen Row and on to Tremont Street, where officers saw that one individual was holding a small item in his left hand between his forefinger and thumb. The suspects got into a vehicle on Tremont Street anduniformed officers approached them. 

The driver quickly closed his car door as police approached, stepped on the gas and hit a tree on the sidewalk in an attempt to flee, according to the police report. Officers drew their firearms and ordered the driver to stop and exit the car. When police asked the pair if they had any weapons or drugs, one individual replied, "I just swallowed them."

Police recovered a bag of tan powder (believed to be heroin) on one of the suspects made a first arrest on Tremont Street.

Back at 14 Monument Square, uniformed officers were granted entry into the apartments and conducted a search. They apprehended the additional suspects and evidence in the investigation.