Mass. Man Left Bags of Cocaine, Heroin in Hotel Room: Salem Police

SALEM, NH — A Massachusetts man was arrested yesterday and held on cash bail after allegedly leaving his drugs behind in a local hotel room, according to police. Walter Velez, 34, of Lawrence, MA, was arrested on March 8, 2017, on two felony counts of possession of a controlled drug-heroin, cocaine.

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

Detectives were tipped off about drugs being left in a room at the Red Roof Inn after staffers spoke with police, according to Capt. Joel Dolan of the Salem Police Department. The past occupant of the room – a man later identified as Velez – allegedly called the hotel, “stating he was on his way back to retrieve some belongings that he had left behind,” Dolan alleged.

“Detectives were able to observe him enter the room and leave carrying the suspected narcotics,” Dolan stated. “The male was stopped where it was determined he was carrying 32 individually wrapped bags of cocaine and 25 individually wrapped bags of heroin.”

Velez was arrested and transported to police headquarters where he was charged and held on $10,000 cash bail. He was arraigned this morning, Dolan noted.