Falmouth Suspect Attacks Officers With Heroin, Police Say: ICYMI

FALMOUTH, MA — A Falmouth heroin dealer was charged with attacking two police officers by throwing a handful of heroin on them, authorities announced Friday.

Russell Pena, 38, of Falmouth, was arrested on a warrant for dealing heroin and cocaine, according to Falmouth police Lt. Douglas DeCosta.

While Pena was being booked at the station, he became combative and at one point pulled a bag of heroin hidden near his underwear, tore it apart, grabbed a handful, and tossed it at the officers, DeCosta said. After order was restored, Pena and two officers were hospitalized for heroin exposure, DeCosta said.

Pena was charged with:

• Assault with a dangerous weapon
• Drug trafficking/possession
• Obstruction of justice

Pena was held on $25,000 bail pending an arraignment.

Pena was arrested in a vehicle in a public parking area on Falmouth Harbor as officers executed a warrant, police said. Officers said they found cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and nearly $1,500 in the vehicle. Another occupant of the vehicle — Michael Lopes, 48, of Mashpee — was charged with conspiracy and being present where heroin is kept.

Photo credit: Falmouth police

Top photo: Russell Pena. (Credit: Falmouth police)

This story was first published Nov. 4, 2016