Alleged Drug Dealer Nabbed In Somerville After 'Meaningless Ride'

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Boston man faces a number of drug charges after allegedly taking a woman on what police called a "meaningless ride" in Somerville. Police said the "meaningless ride" – a short, pointless drive to make a quick drug deal in the privacy of a dealer's vehicle – is a known tactic to officers.

Javier Rivera, 36, was charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to distribute, possession of a Class B drug with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug law and distribution of a Class A drug after police allegedly found a "large amount" of cocaine and heroin on him.

Around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, police noticed a woman leave her home and walk to a black Toyota Matrix on Albion Street. Once she was inside, the car drove down Albion Street toward Lowell Street, took a right onto Central Street and pulled into a parking lot that leads to Somerville Junction Park, according to police.

The woman then got out and the car began to leave.

Police had been surveilling the car, and believed this to be a "meaningless ride," the report stated. Detectives approached the woman and noticed she was mumbling as she spoke to them. She was asked to spit out what she had in her mouth, and allegedly spit two baggies of a brownish substance believed to be heroin.

Police then pulled over the Toyota near Pearl Street and spoke to the driver, who identified himself as Rivera. He did not answer officers' questions and said he did not speak English. Officers asked him in Spanish where he was coming from, and he told them that he went to see his girlfriend. When asked if it was his girlfriend who was just in his car, he said it was not. Police believed Rivera was not answering truthfully and asked him to exit the vehicle.

Rivera was placed in handcuffs and officers noticed a large bulge in Rivera's groin area, according to the report. He would not tell police what was there, and detectives pulled the waistband out to look inside. Police allegedly found a bag containing 23 baggies of a brown powder believed to be heroin, 14 baggies of a white powder believed to be cocaine and a sum of money.

Rivera's cell phone, money and car were forfeited and the baggies were entered into evidence, the report stated.

Editor's Note: This story was written using information provided by the Somerville Police Department. An arrest does not imply a conviction.

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