PITT BULL SHOT DEAD as SWAT Team Ends Family's Drug Dealing

HYANNIS -  It was a rude awakening for the residents of 245 Mitchell's Way at 5:45 AM Wednesday  morning.  At that time, the Barnstable Police SWAT Team executed a no knock search warrant and burst into the secluded home at the end a a dead end section of Mitchell's Way.

The rented home was occupied by Suzanne Ireland - age 38, and her 7 children. The ages of the children range from 8 to 18, but the primary suspect was 17 year old Sean Ireland who has been under investigation for sale and distribution of narcotics from the residence by Barnstable and Yarmouth Police since October of 2006.

 There had been reports that Sean Ireland was in possession of a firearm that he planned to use on anyone that came around.

There was an outside security camera system that monitored sight and sound to warn the occupants if anyone approached the front door of the home. As officers entered the squalid home looking for Sean Ireland, they found him and his girlfriend laying in bed with a pit bull and a Rotweiller was also in the room. Officers demanded that Ireland take control of the Pit Bull to no avail and when the Pit Bull leaped at an officer the officer shot the pit bull dead. By the bed were three baseball bats and a fairly large knife was found under the mattress.

The home was filthy and in total disarray. The was a frying pan on the stove containing a hamburger that was being lifted by the number of maggots beneath it. The home was decorated with Scarface Memorabilia.

Arrested were Suzanne Ireland who was charged with Larceny by Check,  distribution of Class E, distribution of Class B to a Minor, Distribution of Class C substance to a minor, and 2 counts of contributing the the delinquency of a minor. She was supplying Oxycodone, Percocet, and Vicoden to her 17 and 14 year old sons, and keeping a nuisance by tenant.  

Sean Ireland, age 17 and his 18 year old girlfriend were charged with possession of Class B, D, and E with intent to distribute, possession of Oxycodone and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Suzanne Ireland's 14 year old son was charged with possession of Class B Percocet and Class C Vicoden and also malicious destruction warrants from Fall River.

The home was condemned by the Barnstable Health Department and the Department of Social Services took custody of the children. The three week old son of the 14 year old juvenile was not present at the time but was with the child's mother at a different location.