2 Nabbed For Cocaine Deal In Price Chopper Lot: WPD

WORCESTER, MA—Two are facing drug charges after police spotted what they suspected to be a drug deal in a grocery store parking lot.

Shortly before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, WPD's vice squad were in the area of Price Chopper on Sunderland Road when they spotted a Jeep Cherokee pull into the parking lot and park away from the building. A man sat in the driver's seat talking on his cell phone and after a brief conversation drove to the other end of the parking lot.

The driver got out of the Jeep and got into a Toyota Camry. A man was in the Toyota who was identified as Okena Smith, 33, Warner Ave. The man then got out of the Toyota and got back into the Jeep. The whole interaction looked suspicious to the police.

Both vehicles took off, and officers followed both.

The Jeep was stopped by the officers and it was discovered that the male had just purchased cocaine from Smith. At this time the other officers following Smith attempted to stop him at the intersection of Cohasset and Warner Streets. The two vice officers approached the stopped vehicle with their badges prominently displayed outside of their clothing. Smith accelerated and sped around the undercover vice vehicles and sped off.

A marked cruiser tried to cut Smith off but he maneuvered around him, too, and ignored the cruiser lights. Eventually Smith got caught up in heavy traffic and officers were able to catch up to him and place him under arrest.

Smith was discovered to have $393 in cash on him which was confiscated as proceeds of the drug deal. The cash and drugs were confiscated as evidence. Smith was charged with Operating a MV so as to Endanger, Failure to Stop for a Police Officer and Distribution of Cocaine.

The operator of the Jeep was not placed under arrest and will be summonsed into court for the possession of Class B Substance on a date yet to be determined.

Smith was arraigned on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Worcester County District Courthouse.

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