Two Worcester Men Arrested Following Narcotics Deal Near Winslow Park

Wednesday, June 29, 2016
GoLocalWorcester News Team

Two Worcester men have been arrested after Worcester Police broke up a narcotics deal in Winslow Park on Tuesday morning at approximately 8:30 a.m. 

Orlando Alvarez, 22, was charged with possession of a class C substance while Rafael Almansar, 24, was arrested and charged with distribution of a class C substance, possession with the intent to distribute a class C substance and a drug violation within 100' of a park. 

The Incident 

On Tuesday, June 28 at approximately 8:30 a.m., officers working out of the Neighborhood Response Team were patrolling the area of Winslow Park. The officers were operating an unmarked car while in plain clothes. The officers were in this area because of reports of homeless people sleeping in the park overnight as well as reports of people using narcotics and blatant open air drug dealing. 

While in the park the officers observed two individuals, one male was well known to the officers for past offenses. The officers saw a gray Hyundai Elantra with 4 occupants traveling north on Winslow Street and stop at the park next to the male that they recognized as Orlando Alvarez. 

Officers watched Alvarez enter the rear seat of the vehicle and the vehicle drove off and went around the block before coming right back to where it started. 

Officers observed Alvarez exit the vehicle and shake the hand of the front passenger. The front passenger was later identified as Rafael Almansar. 

Observing officers believe that they had just witnessed a street level narcotics deal take place. Officers called in for assistance. The undercover officers pulled behind the Hyundai and activated their emergency lights. They then approached the vehicle and observed Alvarez throwing an object to the ground. 

Officers searched Alvarez and saw a packet of synthetic marijuana along with a synthetic marijuana cigarette. Alvarez was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a class C substance. 

Standing near the passenger front door, officers saw another packet of synthetic marijuana located in the pocket of the door. After observing this, the officer removed Almansar from the front passenger seat and noticed a black backpack in between Almansar's legs. Inside the bag police discovered numerous packets of synthetic marijuana. They also found $603 rolled up in elastic bands inside the backpack.