81-Year-Old Woman Has Pills During Drug Bust: WPD

WORCESTER, MA—On Monday, March 12, Worcester's vice squad searched an apartment on Main Street, the target Ruben Melendez, 35, of the same address. Surveillance was set up around the address and around 10:30 a.m. officers saw two men head out of the apartment and get into Melendez's Honda.

The men were later identified as Brian Rodriguez, 25 and Emmanuel Torres, 31, both of the same Main Street apartment.

Police saw the Honda head toward the McDonald's on Main Street and pull into the lot. Officers approached the car and saw Torres try to tuck something into the center console of the vehicle. Police searched the center console and found a cigar wrapper with four plastic bags of crack cocaine and 17 plastic baggies of heroin. Both men were placed under arrest. Torres had another eight plastic baggies of crack on him, said police.

Police went into the Main Street apartment and found Ruben Melendez, who was attempting to hide in his bed and refused numerous commands for him to show his hands. Melendez resisted the officers attempt to be placed under arrest. One of the officers had to taser him.

In an initial sweep, police found three more inside: Javier Mercado, 44, Main Street apartment, Brittany Drake, 27, Moreland Green Drive and Frankie Galarza, 50, Main Street (not the target apartment).

A search of the apartment produced $1,198 in cash, packaging materials, 14 separate plastic bags that contained heroin, 6 separate bags that contained crack cocaine, and 9 suboxone strips.

Officers found out that another vacant apartment within the building was being accessed by Galarza. The landlord gave the officers permission to search the vacant apartment. That search produced an additional two more plastic bags that contained class A substance (heroin).

While searching the apartment two individuals knocked on the front door. One of the officers answered the door and met with an elderly woman, later identified as Blanca Diez, 81, Bluff Street and a 42-year-old male. The officer observed a large pill bottle protruding from Diez’s bra area. Police found 72 oxocodone pills inside the bottle. Diez was placed under arrest and charged with Trafficking in Class B Substance (18-36 grams).

Frankie Galarza, Ruben Melendez, Emmanuel Torres, Javier Mercado, and Brian Rodriguez were all charged with Possession of a Class B Substance (crack cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Class A Substance (heroin) with the Intent to Distribute. Brittany Drake was also placed under arrest on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Melendez was also additionally charged with resisting Arrest.

All suspects will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse.

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