It was a busy night for the Barnstable Street Crime Unit (SCU). February ended with a flurry of activity as the SCU made five (5) drug related arrests.

Photo: John M Benevides

For one subject, John M Benevides age 31, it was his 3rd arrest by the SCU in five (5) months. BENEVIDES was arrested in October of 2013 by the SCU in Hyannis and charged with possession of class A/heroin. In November of 2013, BENEVIDES was arrested again by the SCU in Yarmouth and charged with possession of class A/heroin with intent to distribute. At the time of those arrests, BENEVIDES was also on probation in Barnstable Superior Court for property crime related offenses from 2009.

BENEVIDES was being sought again by the SCU because he had outstanding default warrants from both Barnstable District Court and Barnstable Superior Court. The warrants were from his November 2013 SCU drug arrest and a Superior Court probation violation. Members of the SCU and Barnstable Detective Division located an associate of BENEVIDES in Hyannis on February 28th, 2014. They began to follow this person in the hopes it would lead to BENEVIDES. He was aware of the outstanding warrants and in hiding. At 6:17pm, BENEVIDES was located in an East Falmouth motel room and arrested on the outstanding warrants without incident. Also located in motel room was a small amount of heroin. Additional charges in Falmouth District Court may be sought. He is currently being held without bail at the Barnstable Police Department.

On same date, at 9:14pm, SCU members Mashpee Officer Michael Assad and Barnstable Sheriff Sgt Kim Saladino stopped a black Mercedes on Rte 28 in the area of Ridgewood Avenue, Hyannis. The vehicle operator, Sean Sullivan age 37 of Boston, and Wallace Grace 3rd age 20 of Hyannis, are very well known to the SCU. SULLIVAN has two (2) previous firearms arrests. In December of 2011, SULLIVAN was arrested in Brockton and charged with illegal possession of a firearm. That charge was later dismissed. SULLIVAN was also arrested and convicted in July of 2001 for firearms violations. He was given a year suspended sentence and probation in Framingham District Court. GRACE was arrested and charged with the shooting at the Hyannis Recreation Center in June of 2013. That case was dismissed when the victim failed to cooperate.

A follow up investigation at the traffic stop resulted in the recovery of approximately five (5) grams of crack cocaine and one (1) gram of heroin from GRACE. Four (4) grams of crack cocaine was found on SULLIVAN. A digital scale was also found in the vehicle. GRACE had over $400.00 on his person at the time of his arrest. SULLIVAN’s black Mercedes was seized and towed to the Barnstable Police Department.

They were charged with the following:

GRACE: - Poss class A/heroin and Class B/crack cocaine with intent to distribute
- Conspiracy to violate the narcotics laws

Photo: Wallace Grace 3rd

SULLIVAN: - Poss class B/crack cocaine with intent to distribute
- Conspiracy to violate the narcotics laws
- Motor vehicle violations

Photo: Sean Sullivan

Less than one hour later, at 10:00pm SCU members Barnstable Officer Matt Blondin and Yarmouth Officer Nicholas Ambrosini stopped a motor vehicle on Rte 132 in the area of Shootflying Hill Road, West Barnstable. The vehicle was being operated by Jennifer E Riccardi, age 45, of Wareham. The passenger was identified as Jonathan Dupuis, age 40, of Wareham. Further investigation relating to the traffic stop resulted in the recovery of approximately 14 grams of cocaine from RICCARDI. The interior of the vehicle contained drug packaging materials, a digital scale, and drug cutting agents. Both were placed under arrest and charged with the following:

RICCARDI: - Poss of class B/cocaine with intent to distribute
- Conspiracy to violate the narcotics laws

Photo: Jennifer E Riccardi

DUPUIS: - Poss of class B/cocaine with intent to distribute
- Conspiracy to violate the narcotics laws

Photo: Jonathan Dupuis

Both were transported to the Barnstable Police Department and booked. RICCARDI is being held on a $2500 cash bail. DUPUIS is being held on a $1500 cash bail