Police Make Drug Arrest

– Allison Goldsberry

A traffic stop made by police, after a detective observed erratic driving and littering, led to the arrest of a suspect for drugs and illegal firearm possession.

According to police, on Tuesday night Detective Sergeant Leo A. Sacco III saw a BMW travelling erratically on Salem Street heading in the direction of Medford Square. After Sgt. Sacco saw the driver toss trash out the window, he called for marked units to assist with pulling the car over since he was in an unmarked vehicle. Police stopped the car at Main and South Streets, not far from the police station.

Sgt. Sacco told the driver, Wendell Calvin Cole, 32, of Roslindale, not to litter, and released him with a verbal warning. However, according to a statement released by police, Sgt. Sacco “was able to develop some other information” about Cole that led him to believe he was in Medford for a drug transaction. Sacco and other narcotics detectives watched Cole and witnessed his alleged involvement in a drug deal at Brooks Park and Main Street, just a quarter of a mile from where he was initially stopped by police.

Police confiscated crack cocaine from the man they saw involved in the drug deal with Cole. K-9 Officer Harold MacGilvray and his dog, Marco, assisted at the scene and Marco brought officers to the trunk of the car, which had a cooler with soda and water, including a can with a false bottom that concealed drugs. Police found 22 grams of crack cocaine and 13 grams of heroin. They also seized a a loaded .45 caliber Colt pistol from the passenger area of the car.

Cole faces several charges related to illegal distribution of narcotics and unlawful possession of a firearm.