Three local men were arrested on drug charges Tuesday after three separate incidents in Holyoke.
HOLYOKE - Three local men were arrested on drug charges Tuesday after three separate incidents in Holyoke.
Around 12:18 a.m., officers with the city's uniformed division conducted an unrelated traffic stop. While still handling that, someone notified police that there were some men at the corner of Chestnut and Saratoga who looked suspicious, according to Sgt. Stephen Loftus.
As police approached the group, one man, 26-year-old Francisco Javier Figueroa, allegedly ran. He left behind a bag with 38 bags of crack and four bags of heroin.
Figueroa, a Northampton resident, was charged with illegal possession of drugs, possession with intent to distribute drugs and for violating the drug-free school zone. He was held awaiting arraignment.
At about 12:26 p.m., officers with the Holyoke Narcotics Bureau were joined by agents from the FBI's Gang Task Force, the U.S. Marshals and the DEA to execute a search warrant in conjunction with an ongoing narcotics investigation.
They crashed the door at 11 North East St. and inside they allegedly found 49 baggies of heroin and two vials of PCP, along with related paraphernalia, Loftus said. Police arrested 21-year-old Gilbert Rivera of 16 Cabot St., charging him with illegally possessing drugs, selling drugs and for violating the drug-free school zone.
At about 12:29, police arrested Luis A. Cintron of Holyoke after a concerned citizen reported a suspicious situation on St. Kolbe Drive. According to Loftus, 20 bags of heroin were recovered and Cintron was also charged with illegal possession of drugs, possession with the intent to sell drugs and for violating the drug-free school zone.
All three men will appear in court later.