Braintree Police Nab Three on Cocaine Trafficking Charges

A drug investigation that began in April has resulted in three arrests by the Braintree Police Department.

Bernardo Torres-Trinidad, 37, of Brockton; Santa Delacruz-Chala, 36, of Jamaica Plain; and Altagracia Chani Torres, 39, of Dorchester; were arraigned in Quincy District Court Wednesday and charged with possession of distributing a class B drug and trafficking cocaine. They are all free on $1,000 bail, in addition to the $1,000 bail all three needed to pay after the initial arrest.

Police became aware of the drug activity about four months ago when a man arrested by police said he got the drugs from a man named Ray. In May, an informant said that a resident on Pond Street also bought drugs from a man of the same name who drove a Toyota Sienna minivan. Later that month, police observed a minivan described by the informant arriving and leaving a Pond Street home, with the driver being the same as the one from the April incident.

On Aug. 25 shortly before 7 p.m., an officer in an unmarked cruiser followed the van to Hayward Street while calling for backup. Officers were able to observe a man put his hand in the passenger window and allegedly receive something from Delacruz-Chala, who was in the passenger seat.

After the deal was made, the buyer saw the officer and yelled, “police!” before tossing a small bag under the car.

Police believe that Torres-Trinidad was the man known as Ray and he was on Hayward Street to sell cocaine. The other two passengers in the car were allegedly aware of the deal. A small child was also found in the car during the investigation.

After the van was brought to the Braintree Police Department, 26 grams of cocaine were found, in addition to the three were part of the alleged deal from earlier in the evening.

Torres-Trinidad, Delacruz-Chala, and Chani Torres are due back in court on Sept. 21 for a pretrial hearing.