HOLYOKE — Holyoke police and federal agents seized a loaded firearm with a defaced serial number along with heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine during a drug enforcement operation Tuesday.
Police Chief Brian Keenan announced that members of the Holyoke Police Narcotics Unit and Drug Enforcement Administration agents from the Springfield office conducted the operation behind Gramp’s Park in an alleyway between Elm Street and Walnut Street.
The operation was part of ongoing enforcement efforts to curb open-air drug dealing in parks, alleyways and other known locations throughout the city.
Detectives received information about drug activity in the alleyway and located four subjects along with various drug paraphernalia.
Officers observed Angel Rivera walking away from police with his hands in his waistband.
Task force officers stopped Rivera and discovered a loaded firearm in his waistband containing six rounds of ammunition with a defaced serial number.
During a search of Rivera, officers found 15 vials of suspected crack cocaine and 16 vials of suspected heroin and fentanyl.
Angel Rivera, 44, of Holyoke, was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number during the commission of a felony, possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug, possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug, possession of a Class A drug and possession of a Class B drug.
Anthony Demaio, 39, of Holyoke, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
