Speeding Scooter Leads To Drug Bust In Waltham

WALTHAM, MA — A Waltham man faecs numerous drug charges after police pulled him over for speeding on an electric scooter without a helmet.

On July 26 at 6:15 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a man driving the scooter on Main Street near Lyman Street. The officer observed the scooter exit the roadway, continue traveling on the sidewalk, passing pedestrians who were on foot while still traveling at a high rate of speed, officials said.

The officer was able to stop the scooter and its operator, Joseph Keane, 36, of Waltham, in front of 577 Main St.

During the traffic stop, it was discovered that Keane’s license status was currently suspended.

Officers began to place him under arrest for charges related to his negligent, disorderly and unsafe operation of the scooter. Keane began to struggle during the arrest.

"When conducting a pat frisk for their safety officers discovered a knife on his person and then a set of brass knuckles in his pocket," police said. "Officers continued the pat frisk and located an expandable metal baton in his waistband, another criminally dangerous weapon."

Police also said they found several packages and bundles of drugs that "appeared to be packaged for street level resale."

A further search of him and his backpack revealed "a large quantity of various illicit narcotics packaged in a way that is consistent with street level narcotics dealing," and a "considerable" amount of cash.

In total, police found the baton, brass knuckles, suspected methamphetamine pills, over 200 pills suspected to be Xanax, baggies of suspected cocaine and ketamine, over 50 pills each they believe to be Clonazepam and Gabapentin, respectively, and pills they suspect to be promethazine.

Officials said they also recovered nearly $68,000 in cash.

Keane faces 12 charges stemming from that traffic stop and search of his belongings.

As part of this investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for a room at the Extended Stay hotel on Fourth Avenue in Waltham, which officials executed on July 28.

During that search, more illegal drugs were found, including what officials suspect to be meth, psilocybin mushrooms and Xanax pills.

He faces four additional drug charges related to that search.