Stoneham Man Arrested on Drug Charges

The Stoneham Police Department arrested two individuals Wednesday on multiple drug charges according to Chief James McIntyre.

Stoneham’s Ryan Birtwistle, 24, was arrested and charged with:

Additionally, Kayla Smith-Bertini, 22, of Lowell was arrested and charged with:

On Wednesday, Stoneham Police and officers from the Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant against Birtwistle that was obtained after a months-long investigation into his suspected involvement in drug distribution.

Over the course of their investigation, Stoneham Police had conducted extensive surveillance on Birtwistle and Smith-Bertini, and followed them as the pair drove to Lynn on Wednesday afternoon. In Lynn, Birtwistle and Smith-Bertini allegedly stopped at a playground and waited until a second car arrived. Officers observed as Birtwistle entered the second car, which then drove away as Smith-Bertini followed in Birtwistle’s car. A short time later, the two vehicles stopped and Birtwistle returned to his own car.

Based on their training and experience, as well as existing information they had learned through the course of their ongoing investigation, officers believed that Birtwistle and Smith-Bertini’s actions were consistent with a narcotics transaction.

Once they returned to Stoneham, officers stopped the pair's vehicle and conducted a search on Birtwistle. Police found more than 100 oxycodone pills in his possession.

Stoneham Police then executed their existing search warrant on Birtwistle’s home and located a variety of pills, cash, plastic bags and two digital scales.

As a result of the investigation, both Birtwistle and Bertini-Smith were taken into custody without incident. They were arraigned in Woburn District Court on Friday.