Chief Terence M. Delehanty reports that the Winthrop Police Department arrested and charged two men with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine as a result of a motor vehicle stop.
SAMUEL CHAVARRIA ARTEAGA, AGE 19, OF REVERE, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Fugitive from Justice on Court Warrant
MATEO MIRA CHALARCA, AGE 26, OF WINTHROP, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
- Giving a False Name to Law Enforcement
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, at approximately 1 p.m., Winthrop Police detectives were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle when they noticed a Ford Escape that was involved in an alleged drug transaction a week earlier and was not registered to a licensed owner.
While observing the Ford Escape, detectives witnessed what they believed was a possible drug transaction in progress, and stopped the vehicle on Veterans Road.
The driver of the Escape, later identified as ARTEAGA, was not licensed to drive, and was taken into custody at the scene. A subsequent search of the vehicle and a cross-body bag that ARTEAGA had on his person, officers located approximately 15 grams of a pink, powdery substance identified by field tests as methamphetamine. Detectives also located a scale with pink residue on it, a blender, and other drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
Both ARTEAGA and CHARLARCA, who was a passenger in the vehicle, were arrested and charged at the scene.
ARTEAGA and CHARLARCA were both arraigned Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court, East Boston Division. ARTEAGA was ordered held without bail on the fugitive from justice charge, and CHARLARCA was ordered held on $2,500 cash bail, with conditions that he surrender his passport and report to probation if he posts bail.
“I want to highlight the good work of our detectives on this case, but I also want to highlight that this is the second time in a week that we have found defendants in possession of methamphetamine on the streets of Winthrop,” said Chief Delehanty. “Methamphetamine has caused major issues across much of America, and I hope we can prevent it from continuing to enter our community.”
These are allegations. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.