By Jim Clark

Members of the Somerville Police Department Drug Control Unit and Gang Unit recently initiated a drug investigation targeting Walter Komnenus and his alleged role in the ongoing distribution of controlled substances in the city. The alleged distribution occurs from his Pearl St. residence.

On Friday, police setup surveillance in the area and at approximately 5:50 p.m. observations were made of a car driving up to the side of Pearl St., where the vehicle stopped. The female operator of the car then exited the vehicle and walked to the back door of the residence, where she entered.

Observations were reportedly made of the female exiting the residence along with Komnenus. After a short conversation between the two, the female left the area in her vehicle and Komnenus entered his truck, which was parked in the driveway. He then reportedly started the vehicle and began to drive away travelling from Pinckney Street onto Wheeler Street.

Police units followed as Komnenus took a left onto Mt Vernon Street, traveling towards Broadway.

Once Komnenus reached the area of Mt Vernon Street, a K9 officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and affected a motor vehicle stop of the vehicle.

Prior to the stop, an inquiry was done regarding the status of Komnenus driver’s license. The results showed that Komnenus has a suspended driver’s license.

Once the motor vehicle was stopped, police officers approached the vehicle with their badges displayed on the exterior of their clothing.

The officers had Komnenus exit the vehicle and he was placed into handcuffs for his safety and for the safety of the officers on scene.

A copy of the search warrant was then shown and provided to Komnenus, who was then asked if he had an active MA driver’s license. Komnenus reportedly stated that he did not and the officers that his license was suspended, but that he was going to get it reinstated next week.

The officers then began to execute the search warrant of Komnenus’s person. Police reportedly found a baggie containing a white powdery substance in Komnenus right front coin pocket, which the officers believed to be cocaine. Based on the amount of cocaine located, the officers felt that it was consistent with someone who will possess with the intent to distribute it.

At this point, the officers placed Komnenus under arrestand transported to Somerville Police Headquarters.

Komnenus’s vehicle was then towed back to the Somerville Police Garage. Inside the vehicle, five orange Suboxone tablets were also found and seized by police.

Detectives then went to the Pearl St. residence to execute the search warrant. Once on scene, police spoke to the owner of the residence, who also resides there. The owner was outside when police arrived at the residence.

Police advised the owner that they had a search warrant of her residence. After a brief conversation with, she reportedly advised the officers that Komnenus had been living at the residence for about six months.

Police were then led to Komnenus’s second floor room, which was locked. The officers opened the door with a key Komnenus gave them prior to getting arrested. They then executed the search warrant.

Inside Komnneus’s room 44 Suboxone strips, 1.5 grams of cocaine, and 2 digital scales were found and seized. Also found inside a trash barrel in Komnenus’s room were numerous sandwich bags with corners cutoff.

Before the search warrant execution, officers did a preliminary K9 search of the residence for narcotics. The K9 unit discovered a jewelry box were cocaine was found. $943 and Komnenus’s cellphone was taken into evidence and will be seized and subject for forfeiture proceedings.

Komnenus was subsequently charged with operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license and drug possession to distribute.