SPRINGFIELD, MA — Members of the Springfield Police Neighborhood Stabilization Bureau arrested four suspects Thursday in connection with drug distribution.
The arrests occurred around 6:15 p.m. Oct. 16 in response to ongoing quality-of-life issues in the South End neighborhood related to open-air drug dealing, drug use and recent firearm-related offenses.
At approximately 6 p.m., officers observed a suspect, later identified as Dequan Wood, conduct a suspected drug deal on the 0-100 block of Locust Street.
A short time later, Wood, a 16-year-old juvenile male and a suspect later identified as Jayvon Gladden went into a restaurant on the 300 block of Main Street.
A subject, later identified as John Galarza, entered the restaurant and allegedly bought drugs from the three aforementioned suspects.
Officers then detained Wood, Gladden and the juvenile.
As this was happening, officers stopped Galarza and recovered four bags of heroin.
He was placed under arrest.
Officers recovered 15 bags of heroin, crack-cocaine, four oxycodone pills and $40 from Wood.
Officers recovered $195, seven snap caps of crack-cocaine, 25 bags of heroin and an additional 2.5 grams of crack-cocaine from the juvenile.
Officers also recovered 40 snap-caps of crack-cocaine from Gladden.
All three were placed under arrest.
Wood was outfitted with an ELMO ankle bracelet at the time of this arrest and violated his curfew.
Due to this, the Massachusetts Department of Probation sent in a warrant for an additional charge.
Dequan Wood, 21, of Springfield is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a Class A drug, possession with the intent to distribute a Class B drug (two counts), conspiracy to violate drug laws and probation violation warrant.
Jayvon Gladden, 19, of Springfield is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a Class B drug.
John Galarza, 33, of Springfield is charged with possession of a Class A drug.
The name, booking photo and specific charges the juvenile faces will not be released due to his age.
