HOLYOKE — Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan announced several drug arrests over the past week as officers conducted property checks to address quality of life issues in the city.
On Saturday, April 12 around 11:30 a.m., Officer Nilda Hernandez and Sergeant Dustin Summers were addressing ongoing quality of life issues in the area of Newton Street and Essex Street when Sgt. Summers observed a female, later identified as Cherise Keyes, involved in suspected drug activity.
Officer Hernandez located Keyes on High Street with 100 bags of heroin/fentanyl, and she was placed under arrest.
Keyes, 34, of Springfield, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a Class A drug and possession of a Class A drug.
On Sunday, April 13 around 10:20 a.m., officers conducted a property check in the area of 137-141 Sargeant Street after Officer Thomas Spafford observed unusual foot traffic and lookouts.
Officers observed two individuals, later identified as Angel Gonzalez and Amber Rondeau, who fled but were quickly detained.
Rondeau had two active warrants and was placed under arrest, while officers recovered seven vials of crack-cocaine, 14 bags of heroin/fentanyl, seven strips of suboxone, hundreds of empty vials, and more than $700 in cash from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, 43, of Holyoke, faces multiple charges including possession with intent to distribute Class A and B drugs.
Rondeau, 36, of West Springfield, faces similar drug charges plus two arrest warrants.
On Tuesday, April 15 around 11 a.m., officers observed heavy foot traffic near 75-119 Newton Street and detained Angel Acumulado after he was seen exiting a condemned area with posted no trespassing signs.
Officers recovered a large folding knife, eight vials of crack-cocaine, four bags of heroin/fentanyl, suspected cocaine and $105 in cash from Acumulado.
Acumulado, 40, of Holyoke, was charged with multiple drug offenses, including subsequent offense charges.
In a separate incident on Friday, April 11 around 5:15 p.m., officers responded to a parking lot on Appleton Street for a report of a fight between three males.
Officers apprehended Richard Torres after a foot chase, and later arrested Felix Vargas near 331 High Street.
During booking, officers recovered two bags of heroin from Torres and seized 62 vials of crack-cocaine and approximately 30 bags of heroin from Vargas.
Vargas, 20, of Holyoke, and Torres, 48, of Holyoke, both face multiple charges including drug possession and disorderly conduct.