Pelham News : Arrests

Two teens arrested in prank at Pelham High

Salem Editor — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:58:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

The two teenagers who left the high school on May 20 in handcuffs may have been trying to pull a prank by bringing a toy gun into the building, but police officers and school officials aren’t laughing.

Authorities are not releasing the names of the two male juveniles, ages 15 and 16, but both have been charged with causing a false public alarm and disorderly conduct after another student spotted a plastic western cap gun on a hallway floor and reported it as a live handgun to school officials at about 10:57 a.m.

According to police, by the time the student returned with a school official, the silver gun had disappeared, leaving authorities concerned that a weapon could be circulating among the student body.

Officers located the cap gun tucked between several books inside the locker of one of the students apprehended shortly before 1 p.m., but not before officials put the high school into lockdown – effectively closing off movement in the building – for roughly two hours while authorities conducted a search, according to Lt. Gary Fisher.

While officers were waiting for a search warrant from the Salem District Court authorizing them to begin searching students and containers inside the building, administrators made an announcement asking for anyone with information to come forward. At that time, several students who knew about the toy gun and the two suspects approached the authorities, Fisher said.

According to police, neither of the suspects turned themselves over to the authorities, but school officials said that the student who had stored the toy gun in his locker came forward to administrators before officers took him into custody.

Police believe the pair worked together, with one bringing the cap gun into the school and later storing it in the second student’s locker.

Five charged with underage drinking in Pelham

Salem Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:11:00 GMT

Police arrested five teens early Sunday morning, May 4, at an underage drinking party on Surrey Lane.

Following an anonymous report of an underage drinking party, police found 11 underage people in a detached garage at the residence. No parents were present at the home.

While police determined that only five had been drinking alcohol, they released all 11 to their parents after charging the five for underage drinking.

The five charged were: Alex McKinney, 17, of Pelham; Daniel Sweeney, 18, of Pelham; Deanna Carnazzo, 18, of Pelham; Alyssia Carrier, 17, of Pelham; and Justin Shepley, 17, of Windham.

Each is scheduled for an arraignment date at Salem District Court on May 12.

Two arrested for selling drugs

Salem Editor — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:31:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Heavy early morning traffic in a Pelham neighborhood reported by residents led to the narcotics related arrests of two people.

Julian Cotto, 35, of Lowell, Mass., faces eight charges, including two counts of selling heroin.

After residents reported unusually heavy traffic in the area of Indian Valley Road during early mornings, Pelham police began a surveillance of the area.

Investigators observed what they believed were daily drug transactions and by identifying several vehicles they were able to link Cotto to the sales, according to Pelham police.

Further investigation led to the arrests of Cotto and David Smith, 53, of Pelham, on Thursday, Dec. 6.

In addition to the two counts of selling heroin, Cotto faces charges of transporting heroin in a motor vehicle (two counts), possession of Klonopin with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of heroin and possession of percocet.

Smith was charged with possession of heroin and possession of prescription pills.

Police said their investigation is ongoing and they expect to make more arrests.