DA Shugrue: One Kilo of Heroin, Guns Removed from Pittsfield Streets
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Local law enforcement agencies seized almost a kilo of heroin, along with guns and other substances, during raids in October.
On Thursday, Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said this interrupted a "large-scale" drug trafficking operation. In total, about 542 grams of cocaine and 1,083 grams of heroin, firearms, and other paraphernalia were seized.
Nine people, including a juvenile, were charged with drug trafficking and/or illegal firearms.
"We're catching drugs and not a lot of cash, so it's not sold. That means that we're getting the drugs before it's sold. Here, almost a full kilo. That tells me it's not in the streets. I see a direct correlation with that. During those months, I'll see the overdose deaths go down, and that's significant to me," he said in a press conference at the Berkshire DA's office.
"But we have to keep fighting it because we have to deal with the addiction issue as well, which we're dealing with in a different light, but we have to get rid of the supply that's coming in, and we see that supply go down. I know that you've got $250,000 worth of heroin that's not on the streets today, and I'm happy with that."
After a lengthy investigation, search warrants were executed on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.
During the Oct. 15 operation, 542 grams of cocaine (with a street value of $54,000) and 83 grams of heroin (with a street value of $20,000) were seized.
Police also confiscated three guns: a 9 mm handgun with nine rounds, a Glock 19, a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with six rounds, four loose rounds of ammunition, a 10-round feeding device, two boxes of 9mm ammunition, and a rifle scope.
Seven individuals were arrested on charges of drug trafficking and possession of illegal firearms.
Two additional individuals were arrested on Oct. 22. During this operation, police found about one kilo of heroin (with a street value of $250,000), a 9 mm semi-automatic Glock with 16 rounds, and 13 assorted .40 ammunition.
The kilo of heroin weighed about 983 grams and was packaged, ready for sale, in more than 49,300 baggies.
"Along with this operation, there was recovery of a large amount of cash in a house on Connecticut Avenue," Shugrue added.
"I couldn't be more proud to be standing here today, announcing the results of this thorough investigation. I have always, and I will continue to do so, support law enforcement and the Berkshires as they work to make our community safer."
He reported that additional individuals may be charged.
The investigation began in June, the same month there was a fatal shooting on Tyler Street, and continued until October. Shugrue explained that earlier this year, while investigating the uptick in summer gun violence, Pittsfield Police learned of a potential drug trafficking operation in the city.
He also delivered an update on the four firearm incidents during Thursday's press conference. Investigators have not yet determined the connection, if any, between the two.
Arrests from these operations:
- Blake Bastow- firearm without FID card, ammunition without FID card, firearm violation with 1 prior crime
- Elijah Adams- trafficking cocaine (36 to 100 grams)
- Noah Philpot- trafficking cocaine (36 to 100 grams)
- Quran Taft- possession to distribute heroin, possession to distribute cocaine, firearm without FID card (subsequent offense), firearm in felony, improper storage of a firearm, ammunition without FID card
- Timothy Carnute- possession of cocaine to distribute (subsequent offense)
- Sebastian Noel- trafficking of herion/morphine/opium (36 to 100 grams), trafficking cocaine (200 or more grams), firearm without FID card, improper storage of a firearm, ammunition without FID card, firearm in felony, firearm violation with 1 prior crime
- Ryan Starbird- trafficking in herion/morphine/opium (200 grams or more)
- Alyza Black- firearm without FID card, ammunition without FID card, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a large capacity feeding device
- Juvenile- redacted
Involved law enforcement agencies include the Pittsfield Police; Pittsfield Police Drug Unit; Pittsfield Police Anti-Crime Unit; Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force; Berkshire Special Response Team; Berkshire County Sheriff's Department; Berkshire State Police Detective Unit; and the Northwestern District Attorney's Anti-Crime Task Force.
Tags: district attorney, drug charges,
