By Jim Clark

The Somerville Police Drug Control Unit set up a routine surveillance was in the area of the Otis Street Playground last Friday in response to citizen complaints of suspected drug activities taking place in the area.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. a suspicious looking vehicle parked at the corner of Dana St. and Otis St.

A police database query identified the registered owner of the car as Starling Pichardo. Further inquiry revealed that Pichardo had a criminal record on file. Officers made a visual identification of the driver of the vehicle as being Pichardo, based on a photo provided via the database query.

Police records also indicated that he resided on Otis St., and this was confirmed when he exited his vehicle and proceeded to enter a nearby residence.

Officers noted that he had been talking to someone on his cell phone prior to exiting his vehicle.

Pichardo reportedly came back out of his residence shortly thereafter and again was speaking to someone on his cell phone. He then entered his vehicle and drove away.

Police maintained a rolling surveillance as Pichardo eventually made his was to the corner of Sycamore and Forster St.

Officers watched as Pichardo reportedly flagged down a vehicle, then entered the passenger side for a short time.

According to reports, the vehicle headed down Forster St. for a short distance then stopped, whereupon Pichardo exited and began walking back to his own vehicle. Police suspected that a street level drug transaction had just taken place.

As Pichardo began to drive away, officers stopped him for questioning. Police noted that he was clutching six $100 dollar bills in his hand.

The driver of the other vehicle was also stopped and a baggie containing 30 pills identified as Percocet were located inside the vehicle. The driver reportedly told police that he had bought the pills from Pichardo for $600.

Pichardo was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with conspiracy to violate drug law, distribution of a class B drug, and drug violation near a school.