By Jim Clark

Members of the Somerville Police Department Drug Control Unit were conducting routine narcotic interdiction surveillance last week within the East Somerville area.

At 6:00 p.m. Mark Verderber was spotted by the unit walking on Mount Vernon St. heading towards Wheeler St. Verderber is reportedly known to members of the Drug Control Unit due to his reputation involving the personal use of controlled substances.

Verderber was observed as he reportedly met up with an individual on the corner of Wheeler St. by Mount Vernon St. This individual is also reportedly known to members of the Drug Control Unit due to his reputation involving the personal use and distribution of controlled substances and known to have been involved in a crack cocaine deal in December of 2017.

The two men were observed by the officers as they reportedly conducted a brief hand exchange, during which Verderber reportedly grabbed something from the other man with his right hand and immediately put the item in his right front pants pocket, then departed the area walking from Wheeler St.

Based on the training and experience of the officers on the scene, the behaviors displayed by two men during the course of this observation were consistent with that of a street level drug transaction.

At this point the officers approached Verderber, at which time he reportedly began to become confrontational. The officers who were following the other man stopped to assist with Verderber.

When asked where he just came from and if he had met with anyone, Verderber reportedly stated that he did not meet anyone and that he was going home.

As an officer attempted to search Verderber’s right front pants pocket, he reportedly pushed away his hand. After a brief struggle, the officers placed Verderber into handcuffs for safety.

The officers then recovered a small baggie with a white rocky substance they believed to be crack cocaine from Verderber’s right front pants pocket.

Verderber was subsequently placed under arrest on a charge of possession of a class B drug.

Additionally, an arrest warrant for the other man involved in the transaction was sworn out.