In the News

Multi-Agency Operation Cracks-Down on Drug Dealing, Firearms Activity & Prostitution in Response to Citizen Complaints and Recent Incidents

|   City News

On Tuesday July 12th and Wednesday July 13th, members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS, Gang Unit, High Risk Victims Unit and CINRET West, Springfield Resident DEA Task Force, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department conducted operations to deter drug dealing, firearms activity and prostitution in several areas throughout the city of Springfield. This was in response to citizen complaints and chronic troubled areas of the city. 15 arrests were made, three illegal firearms were recovered and various narcotics were seized.

For the past several weeks’ members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit and Springfield Resident Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force have been conducting surveillance in the High and School Street corridor. 

In the morning of July 12th, 50-year-old Francisco Anaya was arrested on Littleton Street on a warrant for firearms and drug trafficking charges and 36-year-old Shamaun Drayton was arrested on Longhill Street on a warrant for firearms charges. 

In the early afternoon undercover law enforcement officers began conducting drug transactions in the High and School Street areas.  Around 1:20 p.m. an undercover law enforcement officer attempted to get back into an undercover vehicle on High Street and was surrounded by several males.  One male struck the undercover in the face, another male struck the undercover in the face with a bottle of liquor, a third suspect, later identified as Norman Pagan got into the vehicle from the passenger side.  The undercover left the car and began heading towards High and Myrtle Street with a group of males chasing him.  Near the intersection of High and Myrtle Street a male identified as Luis Morales attempted to trip the undercover and then reached into his fanny pack.  At this time police announced their presence and Morales dropped his fanny pack and ran away as the group chasing the undercover attempted to flee.  A loaded firearm and Massachusetts ID Card with Morales’ name on it was recovered from the fanny pack.  Morales was able to evade officers until Tuesday evening. 

Officers also observed a suspect, later identified as Dennis Jordan, toss two bags of cocaine on Temple Street before he was placed under arrest.  Officers recovered approximately 34 grams of cocaine on Temple Street. 

Officers arrested Norman Pagan on Temple Street.  Officers recovered a fanny pack that Pagan had dropped and recovered a loaded firearm and three half-packs of heroin.  Pagan entered the undercover’s vehicle while he was being assaulted. 

Detectives also arrested Juan Torres Jr. at the corner of School and Temple Street who had an active warrant and gave officers a fake name.  Torres Jr. was in the group chasing after the undercover law enforcement officer. 

Around 7:50 p.m. Detectives observed Luis Morales driving a vehicle in the city.  Springfield Police Officers assigned to the Metro Unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Bridge Street, but Morales refused to stop for police.  Less than a minute later Morales crashed the vehicle on the 800 block of Worthington Street striking several vehicles and a home.  Morales was located on the sidewalk and officers immediately began to provide first aid.  Morales was placed under arrest and transported to Baystate with serious injuries from his crash. 

Two additional arrests were made on Thursday morning.  Two suspects from the assault on the undercover law enforcement officer remain at-large.  There is an arrest warrant issued for one of the suspects and an ongoing investigation for the other suspect. 

On Wednesday July 13th, undercover law enforcement officers along with members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, C3 Unit & Warrant Apprehension Unit, Massachusetts State Police CINRET West & High Risk Victims Unit, Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department conducted an anti-John operation targeting individuals soliciting prostitutes along the Main Street corridor in the South End.  During this operation seven “John’s” were arrested, including one illegally possessing a firearm and two suspects possessing narcotics. 

“I’d like to thank our local, state and regional partners along with our Firearms Investigation Unit for this successful joint operation.  The High Street area has been problematic for drug dealing and recently some violent robberies, which these officers saw first-hand on Tuesday.  In the past few months in this area we have had our uniformed officers assaulted, guns pointed at them and lasers from the buildings aimed at our officers as well.  We will continue to crack-down on these illegal activities both on High Street and in the South End so that our residents and business community can feel safer in their neighborhoods,” said Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood. 

“The Massachusetts State Police are committed to continuing to work with Springfield Police, other local and federal partners, and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to respond to criminal activity, particularly gun and drug crimes and human trafficking, that are negatively impacting the quality of life for our neighbors,” said Colonel Christopher S. Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “Tremendous work by our brave and dedicated men and women of the Springfield Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and all of our partner agencies in taking these violent, repeat criminal offenders off our streets.  This area has been a hot spot for drugs, guns and other violent situations, as our undercover officer experienced when a group of degenerates and vagrants violently attacked an undercover officer.  This aggressive and violent nature shows just how belligerent these repeat violent criminal offenders are and how they disrespect our city, our local law enforcement and especially our residents and businesses.  They have no fear of the courts who continue to act as a revolving door for these repeat violent criminal offenders to push their poison on our streets and threaten our residents and business community with illegal guns.  Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and I are asking our courts to do their job and help keep our residents, businesses and neighborhoods safe by keeping these repeat violent criminal offenders off our streets and out of our neighborhoods.  It seems the courts only want to act and hold these repeat violent criminal offenders accountable is when their crimes escalate into murder.  This week, our local law enforcement officials and agencies have made our streets and neighborhoods safer, but we need the courts to help keep them safe from these vagrants.”       

 

Arrest Details

On Tuesday July 12th at approximately 7:10 a.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS Unit and Springfield Resident Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force arrested Francisco Anaya on the 0-100 block of Littleton Street.

50-year-old Francisco Anaya of Springfield is charged with:

  • Springfield District Court Arrest Warrant
  • Possession of a Firearm without a FID Card
  • Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device
  • Possession of Ammunition without a FID Card
  • Trafficking in Heroin/Morphine/Opium/Fentanyl

On Tuesday July 12th at approximately 8:30 a.m. members of the Springfield Police Warrant Apprehension Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS Unit, Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Hampden County Narcotics Task Force, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshal Task Force arrested Shamaun Drayton on the 0-100 block of Longhill Street. 

36-year-old Shamaun Drayton of Springfield is charged with:

  • Berkshire County Superior Court Default Warrant
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device
  • Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device
  • Possession of Ammunition without a FID Card

On Tuesday July 12th at approximately 1:25 p.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Springfield Police Officers, Springfield Resident Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, Massachusetts State Police VFAS Unit, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and Hampden County Narcotics Task Force arrested Dennis Jordan and Norman Pagan on the 0-100 block of Temple Street. 

32-year-old Dennis Jordan of Springfield is charged with:

  • Cocaine Trafficking 18-36 Grams

25-year-old Norman Pagan of Springfield is charged with:

  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug

On Tuesday July 12th at approximately 1:25 p.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Springfield Resident Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, Massachusetts State Police VFAS Unit, Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and Hampden County Narcotics Task Force arrested Juan Torres Jr. near the intersection of School and High Streets. 

43-year-old Juan Torres of Springfield is charged with:

  • Furnishing a False Name to a Police Officer
  • Holyoke District Court Default Warrant
  • Operating A Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License

On Tuesday July 12th at approximately 8:00 p.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit and Springfield Police Officers arrested Luis Morales on the 800 block of Worthington Street. 

25-year-old Luis Morales of Springfield is charged with:

  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Assault & Battery on a Police Officer
  • Failure to Stop for Police
  • Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License
  • Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
  • Arrest Warrant
  • Parole Violation

A booking photo of Luis Morales is not immediately available as he was admitted at Baystate for injuries he suffered when he crashed a vehicle he was driving. 

On Wednesday July 13th at approximately 7:15 a.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS Unit, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and Hampden County Narcotics Task Force arrested Jonathan Romero on the 0-100 block of Allen Street. 

24-year-old Jonathan Romero of Springfield is charged with:

  • Arrest Warrant
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Possession of a Firearm without a FID Card
  • Possession of a Firearm without a FID Card
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Marked Lanes Violation
  • State Highway Traffic Violation
  • Improper Operation of a Motor Vehicle
  • Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle

On Wednesday July 13 at approximately 7:20 a.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS Unit, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and Hampden County Narcotics Task Force arrested Michael Terrero on the 0-100 block of School Street. 

38-year-old Michael Terrero of Springfield is charged with:

  • Distribution of a Class B Drug
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug – Subsequent Offense

On Wednesday July 14 in the late afternoon seven suspects were arrested for soliciting prostitutes along the Main Street corridor in the South End. 

28-year-old Kevin Cartagena of Springfield is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct
  • Failure to Stop for Police
  • Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
  • Tampering or Destruction of Evidence
  • Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License
  • Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident

63-year-old Rene Flores of Springfield is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct

37-year-old Juan Orellana-Flores of Springfield is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct

37-year-old Rohan Vernon of Springfield is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct

71-year-old John Lampro of Springfield is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct

36-year-old Andre Adame of East Windsor, CT is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct
  • Arrest Warrant
  • Default Warrant
  • Default Warrant
  • Default Warrant

25-year-old Devante Williams-Rosa of Springfield is charged with:

  • Pay for Sexual Conduct
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm without a License on a Public Way
  • Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
  • Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
  • Possession of Ammunition without a FID Card
  • Possession of a Defaced Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug
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Page last updated:  Tuesday, March 1, 2022 01:32 pm