Three Men Facing Drug Charges After Woburn Arrests

WOBURN, MA -- Woburn Police and regional narcotics detectives arrested two men following an investigation Thursday night near the Reeves Elementary School in Woburn. Joely Munoz, 23, of Lawrence, was charged with distribution of fentanyl, while Jared Hicks, 31, of Woburn, was also arrested at the Cambridge Road home where he lives and where police conducted their investigation.

Hicks panicked and swallowed a portion of the fentanyl during the arrest, according to the Daily TImes Chronicle, which first reported this story. Police also said they believe Munoz is a street dealer for a Lawrence-based drug distribution ring.

Woburn Police and the Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force began surveillance around 4:30 after receiving an anonymous tip that Munoz planned to sell drugs at Hicks's home. Two other people told police they had purchased drugs at Hick's residence at 213 Cambridge Road. Munoz was arrested at a nearby KFC restaurant.

Police then arrested Hicks after observing him sell some of the drugs he had purchase from Munoz to Tyler Paonessa, 34, of North Reading. Another person was not charged because he was stopped by police before making a purchase from Hicks.

Hicks, according to police reports, initially refused to stop for police as he exited his home, then yelled "It's too late. I swallowed it" as he was apprehended. Paonessa also initially fled from police in his car, but was pulled over a short time later.

For more on this story, see the Daily Times Chronicle. Subscribe to Woburn Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.