More Drug Arrests At Tewksbury Motel 6

TEWKSBURY, MA -- An investigation by Tewksbury Police detectives netted three arrests Monday. Police arrested Diquane Settles, 23, of 67 Loring Street in Lowell for distribution of cocaine, Laura Jean Pietrantoni, 43, homeless, for possession of cocaine and Joanne Mackenzie, 43, homeless for possession of fentanyl. Mackenzie had two outstanding warrants for assault with a dangerous weapon and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, police said.

Managers at the motel cooperated with the investigation. Pietrantoni and Diquane were arrested after police observed a suspected drug deal at a nearby Cumberland Farms, and Mackenzie was arrested a few minutes later when she returned to the motel. All three were scheduled to be arraigned in Lowell District Court on Tuesday.

The motel near the Interstate 495 interchange on north Tewksbury has been the site of several drug arrest in recent years, including at least six in 2018.

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Photos by Tewksbury Police.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).