TAUNTON, MA — The Taunton Police Department seized more than 140 grams of fentanyl, 21 grams of cocaine and an illegally possessed firearm after executing a search warrant on Stanley Avenue.
On May 6, at approximately 12:09 p.m., Taunton Police were dispatched to the parking lot of a local business for a reported disturbance involving a firearm.
Officers learned that a man had allegedly been assaulted with a handgun at a nearby residence following an argument over money.
Taunton Police Patrol Division officers proceeded to a residence at 7 Stanley Ave., safely made contact with the occupants, investigated the assault with the firearm, secured the scene, requested and executed a search warrant and arrested the offenders.
Patrol Division officers were assisted by members of the Taunton Police Street Crimes Unit, which investigates offenses involving narcotics, vice, gang activity and other neighborhood crimes.
Two residents, Shawana Ann Leslie, 37, of Taunton, and Douglas A. Norris, 47, of Boston, were detained at the scene.
Following a search of the apartment, Taunton Police seized a Taurus handgun, five rounds of .380-caliber ammunition inside a magazine loaded in the firearm, and two black backpacks containing suspected narcotics.
Inside the backpacks, Taunton Police found approximately 3.4 grams of soft powdery white substance suspected to be cocaine, 18 grams of a hard milky white rock-like substance suspected to be crack cocaine, approximately 76.4 grams of soft white powder suspected to be fentanyl, approximately 64.2 grams of soft off-white powder suspected to be fentanyl, 21 pressure-packed pre-rolled marijuana joints and two large plastic bags filled with marijuana buds.
Police also seized several items associated with drug distribution.
Leslie was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of child, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, accessory before the fact, cocaine trafficking (greater than 18 grams, but less than 36 grams), fentanyl trafficking (more than 10 grams) and improper storage of a firearm.
Norris was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of child, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card (subsequent offense), firearm violation with three prior violent/drug crimes, cocaine trafficking (greater than 18 grams, but less than 36 grams), fentanyl trafficking (more than 10 grams) and improper storage of a firearm.
Leslie and Norris were expected to be arraigned in Taunton District Court on May 7.
