Five people were arrested in Springfield as part of a joint operation to combat street-level drug dealing within the city.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Five people were arrested in Springfield as part of a joint operation to combat street-level drug dealing within the city.
On Wednesday, members of the Springfield Police, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and State Police Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force conducted an investigation to combat violence and drug dealing in Springfield.
Springfield officers were observing a building on the 100 block of Federal Street after receiving information that heroin and crack-cocaine were allegedly being sold inside an apartment. Around 3:30 p.m., 35-year-old Richard Zayas of Springfield was allegedly seen purchasing heroin and leaving on a bicycle. Zayas was then stopped and arrested on Worthington Street.
Around 4:00 p.m., officers saw three more suspects leave the apartment building and get into a car. Police stopped the vehicle on Bay Street and arrested the driver, 41-year-old Eddie Ruiz of Springfield for driving without a license and for three outstanding warrants. One of the passengers, 36-year-old Giovanni Pagan of Springfield, was arrested for possession of heroin and crack-cocaine. The third person inside the vehicle was allowed to leave.
On the same day, police also saw two known suspects, 38-year-old Juan Munoz of Springfield and 43-year-old Rafael Avilez of Northampton, leave the apartment building.
All five suspects have been charged with the following:
Rafael Avilez:
Distribution of a Class A Drug – Subsequent Offense (Two Counts)
Distribution of a Class B Drug
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
Default Warrant (Chicopee District Court)
– Marked Lanes Violation
– Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License
Juan Munoz:
Distribution of a Class A Drug (Two Counts)
Distribution of a Class B Drug
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
Eddie Ruiz:
Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License
Arrest Warrant (Palmer District Court)
– Failure to Stop for Police
– Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
– Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
– Shoplifting
Arrest Warrant (Chicopee District Court)
– Shoplifting by Asportation
Default Warrant (Springfield District Court)
– Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
– No Inspection Sticker
Giovanni Pagan:
Possession of a Class A Drug
Possession of a Class B Drug
Default Warrant (Springfield District Court)
– Trespass
Default Warrant (Springfield District Court)
– Breaking and Entering
– Trespass
Richard Zayas:
Possession of a Class A Drug
Local News
22News began broadcasting in March 1953 providing local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Follow WWLP-22News on X @WWLP22News and Facebook.