Dartmouth Police Arrest Dorchester Man, Fall River Woman Found in Stolen Vehicle

DARTMOUTH (WBSM) — A Dorchester man and a Fall River woman have been arrested after Dartmouth Police allegedly caught them in a stolen vehicle with drugs and stolen items from a local pharmacy.

Police said that on March 30 at about 6:10 p.m., detectives conducted a Registry of Motor Vehicles check on a Honda Pilot and learned it was stolen out of Dorchester.

The vehicle parked in the lot of the Walgreens on State Road and the two occupants went into the store, police said. Detectives Derek Sousa and Matthew Correia made contact with the two people, identifying them as Melvin Ward, 48, of Dorchester and Jessica Fernandes, 34, of Fall River.

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Police said each suspect was found to be in possession of fentanyl, and that Ward also allegedly had stolen property from the Walgreens store on him. Both were arrested.

Ward is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a Class A drug (suspected fentanyl), subsequent offense for possession of a Class A drug (suspected fentanyl), shoplifting (second offense), unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and had four outstanding warrants.

Fernandes was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a Class A drug (suspected fentanyl), and had one outstanding warrant.