Alleged
heroin
dealers
busted
By CARL E. HARTDEGEN
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – Two city residents were arrested early this morning as the result of a police raid which netted 145 bags of heroin, more than an ounce of marijuana and ancillary drug materials at a Russell Road apartment.
Det. Lt. David Ragazzini said this morning that detectives under his command, augmented by members of the Special Response Team commanded by Lt. Paul Kousch, executed a search warrant which had been obtained as a result of a weeks-long investigation by narcotics detectives.
The officers entered the suspects’ apartment at the Broadmoor Apartments at 434 Russell Road, shortly before 7 a.m.
Ragazzini said that the warrant was “executed without incident” and two persons were found to be in possession of scales, packaging materials, marijuana grinders and more than $200 in cash as well as the heroin, which was packaged for sale, and a supply of marijuana.
Luis M. Perez, 25, of 343 Russell Road, and Janixa L. Santiago, 24, of the same address, were each charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to distribute and possession of a Class D drug with intent to distribute.
Ragazzini said that a young puppy at the scene was not a complication in the arrests and was transported the Westfield Animal Shelter by the city’s animal control officer, Ken Frazer.
Both suspects are expected to be arraigned today in Westfield District Court.
Bundled packets of heroin, more than an ounce of marijuana and ancillary materials are spread out on a table in the Westfield Detective Bureau as officers inventory the property seized in an early morning raid by police on a Russell Road apartment. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
