Four Arrested for Cocaine Distribution in Worcester

Saturday, July 15, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Four people were arrested in for cocaine distribution in the area of Ethan Allen St and Murray Ave. on Friday morning.

The arrests came as police were conducting surveillance in the area.

The seller, Raphael Miranda, 41, of Queen Street, was arrested and charged with with Distribution of Cocaine (2nd or Subsequent), Drug Violation within 100 Feet of a Park, and Drug Violation within 1000 feet of a school.

The Incident

On July 14, at approximately 8:20 a.m., members of the WPD Neighborhood Response Team were conducting surveillance in the area of Ethan Allen St and Murray Ave in response to repeated complaints about quality of life issues.

Officers in plain clothes and unmarked cruisers saw a man, Miranda, who they knew to be involved in illegal drug trafficking in the neighborhood, standing on a corner on Ethan Allen St. They observed three individuals, later identified as Alston Alexander, thirty-seven-years-old of 25 Queen St, Eric Casson, thirty-years-old of Gardner, MA, and Mandy McAllunas, twenty-eight-years-old of Shrewsbury, across the street from Mr. Miranda. The officers observed McAllunas begin to gather paper currency from Mr. Casson and Alexander. She approached Miranda and handed him the money.

Officers saw Miranda remove a plastic sandwich bag from his mid-section and begin breaking pieces off a large light-colored object. He placed the broken pieces in the left palm of McAllunas.

Officers saw McAllunas cross the street, open her palm, and hand pieces to Alexander and Casson. Officers followed the trio to 22 Ethan Allen St, which is marked “No Trespassing.”

The three were preparing to smoke the crack-cocaine they had just purchased when officers showed themselves and placed them all under arrest. Alexander was charged with Trespass and Possession of a Class B Substance, Casson was charged with Trespass and an outstanding warrant, and McAllunas was charged with Trespass and Distribution of a Class B Substance.

After arresting the three buyers, officers located Miranda on a bicycle entering the Compare Foods lot from Murray Ave. They placed him in handcuffs and charged him with Distribution of Cocaine (2nd or Subsequent), Drug Violation within 100 Feet of a Park, and Drug Violation within 1000 feet of a school.

All of them will be arraigned in Worcester District Court.