Police Arrest Several For Heroin, Crack Exchanges In Main South

WORCESTER, MA—Several were arrested on drug charges after police spotted street level drug exchanges in Main South.

On July 12, members of the Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) were working in plain clothes, driving unmarked police vehicles conducting surveillance in the Main South area of the city. Around 10:45 a.m., officers set up at the Odd Fellows Apartments at 674 Main St.

Spotting with binoculars a man in front of 667 Main St., officers saw this man spitting numerous objects out of his mouth and showing them to another man before putting them in his mouth again. The male started speaking with two others, and the officers saw what they knew to be a street-level drug transaction take place, in which the man took items from his mouth and handed them to the men for cash.

Officers were able to apprehend two of the three. Jean Carlos Figueroa, 33, Worcester and Jose Miranda, 44, Vernon Street, were stopped on Irving Street. Miranda attempted to place a baggie of heroin in his mouth to swallow but was unable to so when one of the officers approaching from behind wrapped his arms around him.

Figueroa was placed under arrest and charged with Trespassing and Possession of Class A Substance. Figueroa also had outstanding warrants for Trespassing, Shoplifting, Resisting Arrest, Larceny and Disorderly Conduct.

Miranda was placed under arrest and charged with Trespassing, Distribution of Class A Substance, Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws and Tampering with Evidence. Miranda also had an outstanding warrant for Sexual Conduct for a Fee.

The third person was able to evade the officers.Within the next half hour, the same officers saw a female on Murray Avenue that they were familiar with due to past drug offenses, and took up surveillance. The woman made several calls, and then a short time later, met up with a man. She was seen handing the man money and he then took an item from his mouth and handed it to her.

Officers went up to the woman and saw she had a plastic baggie with crack cocaine, and the man was further down the road. As officers closed in on the male he began to place items in his mouth and swallow vigorously, said police.

The male was identified as Nikko Holley, 29-years-old of Queen Street. Holley was placed under arrest and charged with Distribution of Class B Substance, a Drug Violation within 1,000’ of a School (Jacob Hyiatt) and a Drug Violation within 100’ of a Park (YMCA Park on Murray Ave.). The female, who was cooperative with officers, was not arrested but will be summonsed into court for Possession of Class B Substance.

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