By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — The Bellows Falls Police Department made three arrests and seized a “felony amount of crack cocaine” that stemmed from the search of a house that the department had received complaints about suspected drug activity.
Jesi Wilkins, 54, of Bellows Falls, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.
Desmond Pertillar, 19, of East Hartford, Connecticut was arrested for possession of cocaine, Possession of a Firearm or Dangerous/Deadly Weapon in the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device.
Isiah Irizarry, 19, of East Hartford, Connecticut was arrested for possession of cocaine, Possession of a Firearm or Dangerous/Deadly Weapon in the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device.
According to information provided by Bellows Falls Police Department, on Nov. 22 at 8:09 p.m., officers assisted by the Windham County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Chester Police Department executed a search warrant at 168B Westminster Street.
“Throughout the past several months the police department has received several complaints of suspected drug activity taking place at this residence and has worked diligently on the issue at hand with the assistance from other area agencies,” the report stated.
Police executed a search warrant and located a felony amount of crack cocaine, along with other suspected drugs. Chief David Bemis said there was about 14 grams, or roughly a half-ounce, of crack cocaine seized. They also found two modified Glock handguns with high-capacity magazines in the residence.
Across the border in the Claremont/Newport area there was a recent drug sweep resulting in 20 arrests and the seizure of large amounts of illicit drugs, and Newport Police Chief Alex Lee said one surprise was the amount of crack at 10 grams. Bemis said that there does appear to be an uptick in cocaine and crack being found in the community but could only speculate as to why.
“We are seeing more cocaine, more crack, and even more of a combination of crack and
fentanyl mixed together,” Bemis said. “It has been more than the last year or so.”
He said the amount of cocaine like has to do with the supply and demand, but also noted that the country has been working hard in recent years to curb the fentanyl and heroin problem with some success. He said this may have opened the door to other drugs.
Bemis praised the work of the officers who worked “really hard for a considerable amount of time” gathering details on where it is being sold and came up with enough probable cause to get a warrant. He said officers worked on this for several weeks, and they are always working diligently to curb the influx of drugs in the community.
“We were successful in getting a good quantity of product off the street,” Bemis said.
Wilkins, Pertillar, and Irizarry were taken to the Bellows Falls Police Department to be processed. They were subsequently issued citations to appear in Vermont Superior Court – Windham Criminal Division on Nov. 25 at 12:30 p.m. Pertillar and Irizarry were ordered held in lieu of $5,000 cash/surety bail.
Bemis said the investigation is ongoing and other charges may be forthcoming.
“The Bellows Falls Police Department would like to thank the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, the Chester Police Department, and the Vermont State Police for their assistance in the continuing effort to reduce drug activity in the greater Bellows Falls area,” the report stated.
