In an arrest witnessed by several passersby, Oak Bluffs and State Police took two Island men into custody, at about 2 pm Friday, in the busy Our Market parking lot in Oak Bluffs. They were jailed on several drug charges, including trafficking in heroin.
The pair had arrived to make a drug deal, according to a press statement from Lt. Tim Williamson of the Oak Bluffs Police.
Police found the two men in a pickup truck that belongs to 23-year-old Jeffrey Rancourt of Tisbury. Mr. Rancourt was the driver, and 23-year-old Jeffrey Sylvia of Tisbury was his passenger. A search of Mr. Sylvia and his belongings resulted in the discovery and seizure of an assortment of drugs, scales, and packaging materials.
Police seized 28 grams of heroin, with a street value of $5,600; 3.5 ounces of marijuana, with a street value of approximately $1,750; 1.25 ounces of hashish, with a street value of approximately $600; five tablets of Suboxone and several tablets of other prescription drugs that are commonly abused; two cell phones and two digital scales, as well as a box of plastic bags and rubber bands, commonly used to package drugs for distribution, police report.
In Edgartown District Court Monday, Mr. Sylvia was arraigned on charges of trafficking in heroin (14-28 grams); possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute a class C drug (hashish); possession with intent to distribute class B drugs (suboxone); and, possession with intent to distribute a class E drug (Zoloft & Neurontin). He was released on $5,000 bail.
The court charged Mr. Rancourt with knowingly being present where heroin is kept and conspiracy to violate drug laws. He was released on $500 bail.
