Featured News
Reading, MA, Officer on Detail Catches Suspected Drug Dealer
August 9, 2010
A quick-thinking Reading, Massachusetts police officer on a paid detail apprehended a suspected drug dealer who had allegedly stolen $500 worth of baby formula from a nearby supermarket—something a civilian flagger never would have been able to do.”
“Because Sgt. O’Brien was nearby, someone who was no doubt preparing to sell thousands of dollars in heroin is off the streets,” said David J. Holway, IBPO national president. “Details put more police officers on our streets; civilian flaggers don’t.”
On August 6, Sergeant Mark O’Brien was working a paid detail on a highway off-ramp in a neighboring town when he heard a call about a suspect running from a Reading supermarket only three highway exits away. The suspect had allegedly escaped with a carriage full of baby formula mix without paying. Knowing that drug dealers use baby formula mix to cut heroin before selling it on the street, Sgt. O’Brien immediately responded to the call.
When he arrived near the scene, he immediately focused his attention on the swampy area nearby. “I knew I shouldn’t proceed all the way into the swamp alone without a visual or audio contact on the suspect,” said Sgt. O’Brien. “I could contaminate the scene for the K-9 units on the way, or risk getting bitten myself. That’s something they don’t train civilian flaggers to handle.”
Then he heard a crunching sound. Sgt. O’Brien cautiously made his way some 25 yards into the swamp area towards the noise, discovered the suspect, drew his weapon and ordered him to surrender. The suspect, covered in bee stings from his attempted escape, gave up without a fight and was arrested. He is suspected in at least one other local baby formula theft and is a person of interest to several other local departments.
Other Top Stories and Info
