BY DARRELL HALEN
A 56-year-old Pelham woman – who allegedly used her microwave oven to cook crack cocaine – is accused of manufacturing and distributing the drug from her 53 Blueberry Circle home.
Pelham police said they found cocaine, marijuana, a measuring scale, money ledgers, counterfeit money, crack pipes and material to manufacture the drugs when they carried out a search warrant at Carol Passanisi’s home on Thursday, April 5.
Police said they sought the search warrant based on intelligence gathered during a three-month surveillance of Passanisi’s house and the arrests of two people, including Passanisi, earlier in the day.
Around 11 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle, which appeared to be unregistered, on Dutton Road coming from Passanisi’s house, police said.
The driver, David Spatola, 46, of Pelham, was arrested for possession of cocaine. Police said officers found what appeared to be a crack pipe in his pocket with crack cocaine.
Passanisi, the passenger in the car, was arrested for possession of cocaine. According to police, officers found what appeared to be crack cocaine in her possession as well as drug ledgers and manufacturing materials.
The search warrant, obtained from Derry District Court, authorized police to search for evidence relating to the sale, manufacturing and possession of crack cocaine, authorities said.
As the search warrant was being prepared, police observed two people leaving Passanisi’s home. The car they were riding in was stopped for crossing a double yellow line, police said.
The driver, Michael LaFortune, 44, of Lowell, Mass., was arrested for operating after suspension, subsequent offense, a misdemeanor.
Officers discovered he had his New Hampshire driving privileges suspended for failing to pay court fines, and he had previously been convicted of operating after suspension.
The passenger, Kathleen Lynch, 52, of Sandown, was arrested for possession of cocaine, police said.
Passanisi is no stranger to Pelham police.
According to an affidavit filed by Det. James Johnson to obtain the search warrant, Passanisi’s son and daughter told police in July that their mother is addicted to crack cocaine and they wanted her to get help.
Passanisi told officers she would seek counseling or rehabilitation the next day, according to the affidavit.
Police had gone to their home regarding a trespassing complaint involving Passanisi and her two children, according to the affidavit.
The following month, according to the affidavit, police arrested Passanisi for possession of drugs with intent to distribute.
In February, police arrested her for possession of drugs, possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, the affidavit said.
When Spatola was interviewed at the police station following his arrest, he admitted to buying crack cocaine from Passanisi for about a year and that he usually goes to her home to pick up the drugs, according to the
affidavit.
He told police that he knows of at least three other customers who buy drugs from Passanisi, according to the affidavit.
As a result of the April 5 busts, Passanisi faces two felony charges of possession of cocaine, and felony charges of possession of Percocet, conspiracy to sell cocaine, and manufacturing crack cocaine. She also faces misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of counterfeit money.
Passanisi and the other three suspects are due to be arraigned in Salem District Court on April 23.
Capt. Joseph Roark said his department is investigating whether Passanisi’s alleged drug operation is tied to a rash of thefts that occurred over the summer.