Medford Man Faces Drug Charge In Somerville

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Medford man faces a drug charge after officers found multiple bags of heroin or fentanyl on him in Somerville, police said. Thomas Alonardo Jr., 40, was stopped Thursday after police witnessed what they believed to be a drug deal.

Officers confronted Alonardo on Broadway shortly after 5 p.m. and noticed he had both his hands closed in fists. They saw a plastic baggie with an "off-white powdery substance" near his thumb and index finger in one of his closed hands, according to the police report.

When Alonardo opened his hands, he had eight baggies of a substance believed to be heroin or fentanyl, police said. The amount he was holding – 8.4 grams – led officers to believe he intended to sell it, according to the police report.

Officers also found $100 cash in his pocket, police said. He was arrested and charged with possession to distribute a Class A drug.