Surveillance Operation Results in Drug Arrests

Three city men were charged with possession of narcotics Tuesday afternoon after members of a Special Services “street team” conducted a surveillance operation at a Main Avenue shopping center.

Police spokesman Lt. Praveen John said the officers were observing activities in the lot at 235 Main Ave. because of numerous complaints of illegal activities occurring there.

John said the officers reported they followed a black Acura with three occupants out of the lot because of a motor vehicle violation and stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of Dunkin Donuts at 195 Main St.

He said an officer reported that as he approached the driver’s window he detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. He said he asked the driver if there was contraband in the car, and the driver allegedly reached toward the back seat and picked up a shirt he handed to the officer. The shirt contained contraband, the officer reported.

He also reported the driver, later identified as Patrick Grimm, said yes, and that he takes full responsibility for it.

A search of the vehicle resulted in finding drug paraphernalia and a bottle of hydrocodone cough syrup with the label mutilated, John said.

Grimm, 19, of 15 Hudson St., was charged with two counts of illegal possession of narcotics, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school, illegal manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, four counts of conspiracy, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Edwin Grimm, 19, of 15 Hudson St., and Benjamin Reyes, 19, of 5 Berkeley St., were charged with four counts of illegal possession of narcotics, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, illegal manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.

Reyes also was charged with failure to wear a seatbelt.

All three were held on $2,500 bonds and given court dates of Dec. 27.