Springfield Police Department

Springfield Police Neighborhood Stabilization Bureau Arrests Four in Connection with Drug Distribution


Springfield Police Neighborhood Stabilization Bureau Arrests Four in Connection with Drug Distribution

Springfield, Mass. — On Thursday October 16th around 6:15 p.m., members of the Springfield Police Neighborhood Stabilization Bureau arrested four suspects in connection with drug distribution.  

This enforcement effort was done in response to ongoing quality-of-life issues in the South End neighborhood related to open-air drug dealing, drug use and recent firearm related offenses.  

At approximately 6:00 p.m., Springfield Police Officers observed a suspect, later identified as Dequan Wood, conduct a suspected drug deal on the 0-100 block of Locust Street.  A short time later, Wood, a 16-year-old juvenile male and a suspect later identified as Jayvon Gladden, went into a restaurant on the 300 block of Main Street.  A subject, later identified as John Galarza, entered the restaurant and allegedly bought drugs from the three aforementioned suspects.  

Officers then detained Wood, Gladden and the juvenile.  As this was happening, officers stopped Galarza and recovered four bags of heroin.  He was placed under arrest.  

Officers recovered 15 bags of heroin, crack-cocaine, four oxycodone pills and $40 from Wood.  Officers recovered $195, seven snap caps of crack-cocaine, 25 bags of heroin and an additional 2.5 grams of crack-cocaine from the juvenile.  

Officers also recovered 40 snap-caps of crack-cocaine from Gladden.  All three were placed under arrest.  

Wood was outfitted with an ELMO ankle bracelet at the time of this arrest and violated his curfew.  Due to this, the Massachusetts Department of Probation sent in a warrant for an additional charge.   

21-year-old Dequan Wood of Springfield is charged with:

  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug (Two Counts)
  • Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws
  • Probation Violation Warrant

19-year-old Jayvon Gladden of Springfield is charged with:

  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug

33-year-old John Galarza of Springfield is charged with:

  • Possession of a Class A Drug

The name, booking photo and specific charges the juvenile faces will not be released due to his age.