SOUTHBRIDGE — A routine traffic enforcement operation led to the arrest of a Southbridge man on multiple drug trafficking charges Tuesday evening.
At about 6:11 p.m., a Southbridge Police officer observed a vehicle, driven by Dale Laliberte, commit a moving violation on East Main Street.
Laliberte, 51, allegedly tried to evade the police by accelerating and making abrupt turns, nearly hitting another vehicle and driving on the opposite side of the road.
After eventually pulling over at the corner of Overland and Morris Street, an investigation by the officer revealed digital scales, a large sum of money suspected to be drug proceeds, and over 20 grams of suspected fentanyl.
Suspected cocaine and prescription pills believed to be Clonazepam, all packaged for distribution, were also recovered from a bag thrown from Laliberte’s vehicle prior to stopping.
Laliberte, of 3 Westford Hills Road in Westford, MA, faces charges including trafficking in fentanyl more than 10 grams, possession with intent to distribute class B cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute class C Clonazepam.
Additional charges include failure to stop for police, using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation.
The suspect was held on cash bail and arraigned in Dudley District Court.
