HOLYOKE, MA — Three people were arrested Friday morning after police seized heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack-cocaine near Soucy Park following weeks of investigation into open-air drug dealing.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan announced that members of the Holyoke Police Narcotics/Vice Unit, along with Task Force Officers from the Western Massachusetts FBI Gang Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration and Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and Strategic Action & Focused Enforcement Task Force conducted the operation.
Detectives seized more than $1,200 in cash, 122 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, cocaine and crack-cocaine in response to quality-of-life concerns in and around Soucy Park.
For the past several weeks, Holyoke Detectives had been investigating illegal distribution of narcotics in and around Soucy Park based on recent citizen and business owner complaints concerning open-air narcotics distribution in Soucy Park and in the area of Cabot/Main and Clemente Streets.
On Friday morning, Detectives and Task Force Officers observed suspected drug deals in that area.
Detectives approached one subject and recovered approximately 12 bags of suspected fentanyl/heroin.
This subject was offered addiction services and later released.
Detectives and Officers then detained three subjects suspected of distributing the drugs, later identified as Felix Gonzalez, Matthew Peterson and Jessica Holmes.
Detectives immediately located approximately seven bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl on the ground between Gonzalez and Holmes.
From Peterson, Detectives and Officers recovered 15 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, nine vials of suspected crack-cocaine, 19 vials of suspected cocaine and $1,009 in cash.
From Gonzalez, Detectives and Officers recovered 10 bundles, or 100 bags, of suspected heroin/fentanyl during the booking process and $215 in cash.
Matthew Peterson, 39, of Ware, is charged with distribution of a Class A drug, possession with the intent to distribute a Class A drug, possession with the intent to distribute a Class B drug, conspiracy to violate drug law, possession of a Class A drug and possession of a Class B drug.
Felix Gonzalez, 40, of Holyoke, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a Class A drug, conspiracy to violate drug law and possession of a Class A drug.
Jessica Holmes, 30, of Brookfield, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a Class A drug, conspiracy to violate drug law and possession of a Class A drug.
