By Tom Nash
Somerville Police arrested six people in connection with a drug investigation at the Clarendon Hill Towers last week. Following tips from residents and management, the Somerville Police Drug Control Unit began investigating alleged cocaine distribution by Mohammed Al Taban in early February. Searches were conducted Feb. 26 in two apartments, one occupied by John Kehoe, 42, and the other by Al Taban, 19. |
According to a preliminary police report written by Inspector James Hyde, officers saw Al Taban and Kimberly Orellana, 17, leaving Kehoe's apartment when they arrived to execute the warrants. After detaining them while the apartment was searched, police found a bag filled with what was believed to be cocaine and $1,389 in cash on Al Taban.
After Al Taban made an incriminating statement about Orellana, police removed a plastic bag full of a substance believed to be cocaine from her bra.
Upon entering Kehoe's apartment, they found him smoking a substance believed to be crack cocaine. James Fidler, 39, a New Hampshire resident whose heroin distribution activities Hyde described as "well known to this investigator," was found on a couch about to ingest a substance believed to be cocaine.
Police recovered $980 from Fidler's person, then found his van in the nearby Johnnie's Foodmaster parking lot after Al Taban told them its location. Somerville Police dog "Max" alerted detectives to 18 grams of a substance believed to be heroin in the van's engine compartment.
The search conducted in Al Taban's apartment revealed $3,874 in cash, a digital scale, clothing and EBT cards Hyde said were likely used for bartering illegal substances. Jamil Taban, 20, and Adel Al Taban, 26, found in the apartment, were both taken into custody along with Mohammed Al Taban, Orellana, Fidler and Kehoe.
Mohammed Al Taban and Orellana were charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, drug violation near a school or park, and trafficking in cocaine. Fidler is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a Class B drug and trafficking in heroin.
Jamil Taban and Adel Al Taban are charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws. Kehoe is charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and possession of a Class B drug.
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