Two From New Bedford Among 5 Charged in Raynham Shoplifting Investigation

RAYNHAM (WBSM) — Two New Bedford residents are among five people charged after a shoplifting investigation in Raynham led to police seizing drugs.

According to Raynham Police, all five people were charged with shoplifting by concealing merchandise, including an unnamed 45-year-old woman from New Bedford who will be charged by criminal summons.

Two others – Jillian O’Neil, 35, and Xavier Ramos, 36, both of Taunton – were arrested and only face the shoplifting charge. James Cyr, 42, of Raynham was arrested and also charged with possession of a Class A drug in addition to shoplifting. Mark Santos, 41, of New Bedford was arrested and charged with trafficking in 36 grams or more of cocaine, possession of a Class A drug (subsequent offense), and trespassing, in addition to shoplifting.

Shoplifting Call Brings Police to Walmart

On Wednesday, April 1, at about 2:16 p.m., Officer Michael Civale responded to the Walmart store at 36 Paramount Drive in Raynham for a report that loss prevention staff had detained two shoplifters who were not cooperating. Police were also notified that at least two other people had been involved in the shoplifting but had fled the store in a blue SUV.

One Suspect Attempts to Flee Police

Officer Civale arrived and saw a woman walking in the parking lot who matched the description of one of the suspects who fled. She began to run, but he tracked her down and allegedly saw her discard a backpack under a car. He detained her – she is identified only as a 45-year-old New Bedford woman – and brought her to the loss prevention office.

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Drugs Found During Search

Loss prevention staff had observed multiple people concealing merchandise and leaving without paying. During a search of Santos, they allegedly found a large plastic baggie containing multiple smaller baggies inside a cross-body bag he was wearing.

“The smaller baggies contained numerous white, rock-like objects consistent with crack cocaine,” police said. “The cross-body bag also held a plastic container containing two additional baggies with crack cocaine rocks, and a third baggie containing a white powdery substance consistent with fentanyl.”

In total, Raynham Police seized 48 grams of crack cocaine and two grams of fentanyl from the bag. The search also turned up numerous empty baggies, two digital scales, two pill bottles with unknown pills, and three cell phones.

Raynham Police Track Down Additional Suspects

Santos at first gave a wrong name to officers, but eventually they learned his true identity, and that he had an active warrant for his arrest. They also learned a second person detained, O’Neil, also had an active warrant for her arrest.

Detective Patrick Leahy was searching for the blue SUV and saw a man walking around multiple nearby parking lots. In the back of one of the lots, Juvenile Detective Jennifer Lang located a blue Chevrolet Tahoe matching the description of the vehicle that fled. Officers made contact with the man, identified as Cyr, who was seen walking around. They confirmed he was the registered owner of the vehicle. Cyr also allegedly had “a small baggie of a white powdery substance consistent with fentanyl on his person,” according to police.

Police said the investigation into the shoplifting revealed that five people entered the store and concealed over $538 worth of merchandise, including jewelry and watches.

While officers were booking the suspects, Raynham Police received another call that the fifth person involved in the shoplifting was walking around the area. Officers responded and found the man, later identified as Ramos, who initially provided the wrong name to officers. A bail clerk set his bail at personal recognizance.

Officers later determined Ramos had provided the wrong identity and learned he had three active warrants for his arrest. Raynham Police are now seeking an additional warrant for his arrest on a charge of furnishing false identification information to law enforcement.

The 45-year-old New Bedford woman was initially under arrest but required medical attention. She was transported to a local hospital and will be issued a summons to appear in court at a later date. Santos, O’Neil and Cyr were all scheduled to be arraigned today in Taunton District Court.