November 23, 2016 -Springfield, MA- Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni announced today the arrests of Edwin Santos, 27, listed as homeless at the time of his arrest and Ramon Rivera, 24, of Chicopee, Ma after an investigation into the distribution of heroin in the City of Holyoke by the District Attorney’s Hampden County Narcotics Taskforce.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “I would like to thank the members of the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force for their professional, thorough, and successful investigation leading to this arrest. We are focused on investigating, arresting, and aggressively prosecuting drug dealers and traffickers. It is they who profit from the scourge of addiction, which destroys lives, families, and communities.”

An investigation commenced, once law enforcement became aware of Edwin Santos as someone who was actively engaged in the distributio n of heroin. Through and by that investigation, on November 3, 2016, a Hampden County Grand Jury returned an eleven count indictment charging Santos with: four counts of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Class A Heroin, four counts of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Class B Fentanyl, and three counts of Violation of Controlled Substance Law; School or Park Zone. As a result of these indictments, a warrant for his arrest was issued on the same day from Hampden County Superior Court.

On Tuesday November 15, 2016 members of the District Attorney’s Hampden County Narcotics Force attempted to arrest Santos on the warrant but he fled into a waiting vehicle.

The following day on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, members of the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force, Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit from the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), and the Holyoke Police Department Narcotics Bureau learned of Santos’s whereabouts. While attempting to locate Santos, officers observed a Honda that matched the description of the vehicle that Santos had entered the previous night when he eluded police.

Santos was observed as he was operating the Honda sedan on Clayton Street in the area of Homestead Avenue in Holyoke. He again tried to elude police by striking an undercover vehicle with the vehicle he was operating.  Santos then fled on foot from the Honda, leaving the passenger Ramon Rivera, who was taken into custody without incident. Officers caught up with Santos who violently struggled with officers before being taken into custody. Both subjects were transported to the Holyoke Police Department for booking.

Recovered from the Honda were approximately 460 bags of heroin wrapped and ready for sale on the street.

Edwin Santos was arraigned on November 17, 2016 in Holyoke District Court. As a result of this incident he is facing additional charges of: Drug Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin), Drug Possession with the Intent to Distribute, Class A Substance (Heroin), Assault with Intent to Maim, Drug Violation Near a School or Park, Malicious Destruction of Property greater than $250 and Operation of a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License. Pursuant to the District Attorney’s request, bail was set at $100,000 and he is currently in custody. He is scheduled to be back in court on December 15, 2016 for a pre-trial conference.

Ramon Rivera was scheduled to be in court on November 17, 2016 but failed to appear. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. He is facing charges of Drug Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin), Drug Possession with the Intent to Distribute, Class A Substance (Heroin) and a Drug Violation Near a School or Park.