Springfield Police Metro Unit and MSP Deployments Lead to Illegal Firearm and Drug Seizures

Springfield Police Metro Unit and MSP Deployments Lead to Illegal Firearm and Drug Seizures

Springfield, Mass. — On Thursday April 11th and Thursday March 21st, members of the Springfield Police Metro Unit, C3 Mason Square, C3 North End and Squad Officers along with the Massachusetts State Police B Troop Community Action Team (C.A.T.) and Gang Unit West collaborated on a deployment to deter drug activity and various quality of life issues in the city.

This joint deployment and collaborative effort led to 12 arrests including several for drug trafficking on Thursday March 21st and the recovery of an illegal firearm on April 11th. This specific partnership was formed over time as the Massachusetts State Police hosted several graduations at the MassMutual Center and the Springfield Police Metro Unit supported those events.

Based on the success of these deployments, future collaborations are in the works.

On Thursday April 11th at approximately 12:20 p.m. Officers and Troopers arrested Jean Torres-Ortiz and Rafael Mendrell Jr. Members of the Springfield Police C3 Metro Unit have been investigating drug dealing in the Lyman Street area and they developed information about a suspect who was armed. The suspect, Torres-Ortiz, had an outstanding warrant out of Springfield District Court.

A Springfield Police Supervisor saw Torres-Ortiz and another subject, later identified as Mendrell Jr., by the Lyman Street entrance of Union Station conduct what was believed to be a drug transaction. Troopers and Officers then approached and stopped the suspects on Lyman Street. While taking Torres-Ortiz into custody, a firearm was recovered from his shoulder bag. An Officer then recovered approximately 54 bags of heroin and cash. A search of Mendrell Jr. yielded approximately six bags of heroin. Both were placed under arrest.

23-year-old Jean Torres-Ortiz of Springfield is charged with:

Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
Distribution of a Class A Drug
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
Carrying a Firearm without a License
Carrying a Dangerous Weapon while having an Active Warrant
Resisting Arrest
Arrest Warrant

33-year-old Rafael Mendrell Jr. of Springfield is charged with:

Possession of a Class A Drug

On Thursday March 21st in the early afternoon, Officers and Troopers arrested seven suspects on drug and chapter 90 charges. Heather Roy and Rachel Demos were arrested on the 1300 block of East Columbus Avenue after a traffic stop.

41-year-old Heather Roy of Longmeadow was charged with:

Possession of a Class B Drug

46-year-old Rachel Demos of Springfield was charged with:

Possession of a Class B Drug

Jaylyn Williams was arrested on the 100 block of Walnut Street after a traffic stop.

24-year-old Jaylyn Williams of Springfield was charged with:

Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Another traffic stop near the intersection of State and Stebbins Streets resulted in the arrests of Cruz Fernandez and the seizure of a trafficking weight of cocaine.

33-year-old Cruz Fernandez of Springfield was charged with:

Cocaine Trafficking – 36-100 Grams
Possession of a Class B Drug
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws
Distribution of a Class B Drug

A traffic stop near the intersection of State and Dwight Streets led to the arrests of Jose Melendez, Treysean Perry and Edward Hernandez. This also resulted in the seizure of trafficking weight of cocaine.

40-year-old Jose Melendez of Springfield was charged with:

Cocaine Trafficking – 36-100 Grams
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws
Distribution of a Class B Drug

30-year-old Edward Hernandez of Springfield was charged with:

Cocaine Trafficking – 36-100 Grams
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws
Distribution of a Class B Drug

28-year-old Treysean Perry of Springfield was charged with:

Cocaine Trafficking – 36-100 Grams
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws
Distribution of a Class B Drug

On Thursday March 21st, at approximately 3:45 p.m. Officers and Troopers arrested Gabrielle Cruz on the 0-100 block of Wilbraham Road. Approximately 48 bags of heroin and crack-cocaine were recovered.

22-year-old Gabrielle Cruz of Springfield was charged with:

Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
Tampering with Evidence
Loitering
Arrest Warrant

On Thursday March 21st, at approximately 6:00 p.m. Officers and Troopers made three arrests on the 6000 block of State Street: Daniel Garvey, Jose Morales and Ashley Booher.

28-year-old Daniel Garvey of Springfield was charged with:

Trespassing after Notification
Possession of a Class A Drug – Subsequent Offense

53-year-old Jose Morales of Springfield was charged with:

Trespassing after Notification
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug (Heroin)
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug (Cocaine)
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug (Crack-Cocaine)
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug (Suboxone)

35-year-old Ashley Booher of Springfield was charged with:

Trespassing after Notification
Possession of a Class A Drug
Possession of a Class B Drug

On Thursday March 21st at approximately 7:30 p.m. Officers and Troopers were patrolling the area of High and School Streets when they observed an unregistered motor vehicle. The driver, Ricardo Resto, was placed under arrest on the 200 block of Union Street.

53-year-old Ricardo Resto of Springfield was charged with: