MONTAGUE — A 37-year-old Springfield man was arrested on drug possession and trafficking-related charges after being pulled over while driving with a suspended license Monday.
Deon Charles was arraigned in Greenfield District Court Tuesday on charges of trafficking between 18 and 36 grams of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute Class B and D substances for subsequent offenses, operating with a suspended license for a subsequent offence and failure to stop.
According to a report by state police trooper Scott Boutell, Charles was observed driving past a stop sign without coming to a complete stop at the intersection of Turners Falls Road and Canal Street around 11 p.m. Monday. Boutell wrote he stopped the vehicle after he saw Charles drive past the stop sign at Avenue A and Third Street, blocking a crosswalk.
An Registry of Motor Vehicle check revealed Charles’ license was suspended, giving Boutell probable cause to place him under arrest. While searching Charles before placing him in the cruiser, Boutell said, a clear plastic bag containing a white powder fell to the ground. Police also located in the vehicle a large prescription bottle with residue that smelled like fresh marijuana, as well as a similar bottle containing several bags of a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana and several bags containing a white powder believed to be cocaine, according to the report.
Boutell wrote that Charles was charged with possession with the intent to distribute because of the way the narcotics were packaged, noting in his report that they are commonly sold in clear plastic sandwich bags in small amounts.
The larger bag of white powder that fell from Charles’ person weighed approximately 32 grams, according to the report, and Charles admitted that it was cocaine, police allege.
Charles has an extensive criminal history involving possession of cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute, along with other trafficking charges, according to the report.
Charles is due back in court Nov. 3 for a bind-over hearing to determine whether his case will be transferred to Superior Court.