By Jim Clark

Somerville police officer’s suspicions were aroused last Saturday as they observed a man pacing up and down a portion of Broadway while almost continuously using a cell phone, according to reports.

Surveillance of Hendy Jeanniton, 32, was maintained as he and another party, who police recognized as a known drug user, proceeded to the Walnut Street and Walnut Road area, where Jeanniton reportedly continued placing calls on his cell phones while seemingly being on the lookout for someone, police said.

After several instances of Jeanniton walking around the area, appearing to be looking for someone, a car eventually arrived and he approached the passenger side and received a brown paper bag, which he took with him as he walked away, according to police.

The car was then stopped and the driver, Carlos Santiago, 26, of Boston, reportedly began an attempt to conceal something from police by swallowing it. Santiago had placed a plastic bag filled with a white powder, which was judged to be cocaine by the officers on the scene, police report. The man allegedly succeeded in swallowing the bag.

Sixty dollars in cash was reportedly found to be on Santiago’s lap as well, police said.

Santiago struggled and resisted police attempts to remove him from the vehicle, according to reports.

Mr. Jeanniton was stopped and questioned a short distance away, according to police, but no drugs were found on his person. He stated that his intention was to “cuff” the cocaine from Santiago, police said.

Both men were placed under arrest and charged with conspiracy to violate drug law. Additionally, Santiago was charged with resisting arrest and, based on the act of destroying evidence, obstruction of justice (interfering with a police investigation).