Clerk's tip leads police to drug cache

By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON — Quick-thinking clerks at a Pleasant Street convenience store helped land three area residents in court Monday on charges of attempting to sell $2,500 worth of marijuana.

Miguel Angel Martinez, 22, of 320 Stebbins St., Belchertown, Nicole Marie Carron, 21, of 28 Eugene Drive, Belchertown and Josue Santiago, 24, of Westfield, each pleaded innocent in Northampton District Court to charges of possessing a class D substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute. Martinez also pleaded innocent to a charge of providing police with a false name, and Santiago pleaded innocent to charges of possessing a class B substance (Adderall), subsequent offense and possessing a class C substance (clonazepam), subsequent offense.

According to police, Detective Alan Borowski and officer Sean Casella responded at 8:42 p.m. to a call from workers at O’Connell’s Convenience Plus, who reported that people in a vehicle parked at their gas pumps had been acting suspiciously.

Employees said they had on several occasions seen one of the car’s occupants walk to the side of the building and return to the vehicle, which would then park at a different gas pump. They also reportedly told police one of the passengers in the vehicle entered the store twice looking to exchange a $10 bill for smaller denominations, telling the cashier “I have the munchies,” according to court documents.

When Borowski and Casella approached the vehicle, they reportedly smelled marijuana, saw remnants of the drug on the driver’s T-shirt and several gutted cigars or “blunts” lining the back seat. After determining that all three occupants of the vehicle were under the influence of marijuana and discovering that Martinez had a warrant for his arrest, they arrested Martinez and searched the car.

The search reportedly uncovered two backpacks, each containing 116 grams, or more than 4 ounces, of marijuana and 198 small plastic bags. One of the backpacks, which was lying closest to Santiago, also contained a digital scale, a clonazepam pill and several Adderall.

While in custody, police found that in March 2008, Santiago was found guilty on a charge of possessing a class D substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute in Springfield District Court; and Martinez had an active default warrant out of West Springfield Court for possessing a class D substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute.

Judge Richard J. Carey set bail for each of the defendants at $5,000 cash or $50,000 surety and they are all scheduled to reappear in court for a pretrial hearing Oct. 26.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com