Wareham Police Arrest Three on Drug Charges

WAREHAM — On Wednesday, October 11th, the Wareham Police Department Detective Division executed a search warrant at 223 Gatehouse Drive in East Wareham, as the result of an investigation regarding the sale of illegal drugs from the apartment.

Prior to entering the apartment with the search warrant, detectives noticed a female, later identified as 40-year-old Mellissa MacDonald, leave the apartment and meet with another female in a vehicle parked in a nearby business parking lot. MacDonald was approached at that time and placed under arrest for a previously obtained warrant. During the arrest in the parking lot, MacDonald was found to be in possession of a plastic baggie containing suspected crack cocaine.

The driver of the vehicle, 53-year-old Laura Alden of Buzzards Bay, was placed under arrest when detectives found a small amount of heroin and drug paraphernalia in her possession.

Detectives then executed the search warrant at the apartment at 223 Gatehouse Drive, which is the residence of MacDonald and 46-year-old Louis Andrade, who was present at the time of the entry.

Upon entering the apartment, detectives located plastic baggies containing crack cocaine (16 grams) and heroin (three grams), along with pills later identified as oxycodone. Several drug paraphernalia items, including a digital scale, plastic baggies, and Inositol were also found throughout the apartment. As the search continued, detectives found 9mm ammunition inside a sneaker, then located an unloaded 9mm handgun with an attached clip containing seven rounds, which was found in the apartment air conditioning duct.

Andrade was arrested and charged with: distributing Class A substance (heroin); distributing Class B substance (cocaine); possession of a firearm while unlicensed (subsequent offense); possession of a firearm without an FID; possession of a firearm with three prior violent crime/drug offenses; possession of a Class B substance.

MacDonald was arrested and charged with: distributing a Class A substance (heroin); possession of a Class B substance (crack cocaine); possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute (crack); conspiracy to violate drug laws; possession of a Class B substance (oxycodone).

Alden was arrested and charged with possession of a Class A substance (heroin) and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

--Wareham Police Department