I-91 Traffic Stop Yields 'Trafficking Weight' Of Heroin

BERNARDSTON, MA — A state trooper found a "trafficking weight" shipment of heroin during a traffic stop about five miles south of the Vermont border early Wednesday morning, according to police.

Trooper Scott Bouttell pulled over a newer Toyota along I-91 in Bernardston at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after finding the owner had a suspended license. Bouttell found about 50 grams of heroin in the car after a search — that's the equivalent of over 2,000 bags of heroin on the street, police said.

During the stop, passenger Lakeam Bennett, 27, of Holyoke, fled by running across the southbound lanes of I-91. He was hit by a car, but made it into the woods. Police did catch up to him, and he was arrested on charges of heroin trafficking, resisting, disorderly conduct, and drug conspiracy.

The driver, Juliette Renault, 20, of Florence, was arrested on charges of speeding, heroin trafficking, and drug conspiracy.