New Bedford Police Arrest Three for Crack Possession

NEW BEDFORD — Narcotics detectives from the New Bedford Police Department arrested three people for possession of crack cocaine while targeting street-level drug activity in the city's North End on Thursday.

At about 11:42 a.m. Thursday, detectives observed a male in the vicinity of 15 Bullard Street conducting activities consistent with drug activity. The man was monitored and subsequently searched, and police say they discovered a small amount of crack cocaine on his person. They arrested the man, 67-year-old George William Prien, Jr. of Hopkinton, on charges of possession of a Class B substance.

Just over 10 minutes later, detectives observed a female known to them engaging in suspected drug activity in the area of Tallman Street and Ashley Boulevard. A search of her person yielded a small amount of crack cocaine. The woman, 55-year-old June J. Ventura of Holly Street in New Bedford, was arrested and charged with possession of a Class B substance.

Then just before 1 p.m., detectives observed another female engaged in suspected street-level drug activity. She was searched at the intersection of Deane Street and Belleville Avenue, and was also found to be in possession of a small amount of suspected crack cocaine. The woman, 45-year-old Dory Reyes of Phillips Avenue in New Bedford, was arrested and charged with possession of a Class B substance.