MORE GUNSHOTS: Shell casings found in the street… again…
Top photo: Barnstable Patrolman Dan Ruth provides updates for a responding crime scene investigator…
MARSTONS MILLS – For the second evening in a row there were unexplained gunshots on the streets of Barnstable…
Last evening, at about 10:46pm, Barnstable Police patrol units responded to the area of 882 Wakeby Road for a report of five gunshots.
Responding officers found shell casings in the street on Wakeby Road just before the Sandwich town line.
With the help of a Sandwich patrol officer, a section of Wakeby Road was closed to all traffic for about an hour while police investigated.
A Barnstable County Sheriff’s crime scene identification officer was called in to take photos, collect, and process evidence from the crime scene. A Barnstable Police detective was also called to the scene…
Police determined there did not appear to be a specific target and the shots where likely fired up into the air.
Several residents driving home did not appear particularly surprised when told about the gunshots. One resident remarked that sounds of random gunshots were not unusual in that part of town.
The incident remains under investigation by the BPD.
In other news:
MARSTONS MILLS — Man arrested for drug and gun charges after calling police to investigate B&E at his residence…
Actual BPD press release:
On December 26, 2014 the Barnstable Police were called to 291 Long Pond Rd. Marstons Mills for a residential alarm. While enroute to the alarm, the owner of the house, Mario Gatto, called the alarm company to report that he was on scene and that the alarm was in error; the police response was then canceled. A short time later, Gatto called the police department to report his home had been broken into and that he needed police assistance regarding a B&E.
Patrol officers arrived and Gatto explained that his front door had been kicked in and a television had been stolen from the residence. Officer Jackson and his K9 Elvis were called to the scene to attempt a K9 track of the fleeing suspect(s).
During the track, K9 Elvis led Officer Jackson directly down a pathway near the right side of Gatto’s property and then alerted on three dry Tupperware containers lying on the ground. Officer Jackson looked inside the containers and discovered a loaded 9mm handgun with defaced serial numbers, and approximately 300 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of heroin.
The evidence was collected and removed from the scene and surveillance was established on the location that the gun and drugs were found. The following afternoon, Mario Gatto was observed searching the area where the Tupperware containers had been hidden in the woods.
The gun and drug evidence was brought to the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office of Criminal Investigations to be processed. At the lab, Criminal Investigation Officer Sean Percy was able to lift Mario Gatto’s fingerprint from drug paraphernalia that had been located with the heroin and cocaine.
On Thursday 2/5/15, Mario Gatto was arrested by Barnstable Detectives on a warrant for Trafficking a Class B Substance (Cocaine) Over 200 grams, Trafficking a Class A Substance (Heroin) 18-36 grams, Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number, and Improperly Stored Firearm.
Mario Gatto has a long history of narcotics related offenses. In 2005, Gatto was convicted in Barnstable Superior Court for 3 Counts of Distributing a Class B Substance. In addition, Gatto was found guilty of Possession of a Class B Substance in 2005 and 2012. Mario Gatto also currently has a pending Conspiracy to Violate the Control Substance Act and Possession of Class B case in Barnstable Superior Court.
Gatto was transferred to Barnstable District Court on Friday 2/6/15, where he was arraigned and his bail was revoked on his pending Superior Court case. In addition, a $10,000 bail was set for the new charges.
In other news:
HYANNIS – Detectives execute search warrant at downtown hotel room, two arrested for drug trafficking…
Actual BPD press release:
After a three week investigation by Barnstable Narcotics Detectives, a search warrant was issued for a specific room at a Hyannis area hotel. The target of the investigation, 23 year old Chelsea Johnson, had been arrested for distributing heroin and oxycodone from another Hyannis area hotel room in October.
At approximately 3PM on Friday 2/6/15, Barnstable Narcotic Detectives executed the search warrant and Ms. Johnson and 24 year old Russell Viera were secured without incident. A subsequent search of the premises yielded two large bags of heroin; one containing 21 grams and a second containing 36 grams. In addition, Barnstable Detectives located a small amount of cocaine and three individually packaged bags of marijuana along with narcotic packaging and distribution materials.
As a result of the search, Russell Viera and Chelsea Johnson were charged with Drug Trafficking a Class A Substance (Heroin) 36-100 grams, Drug Possession of a Class B Substance (Cocaine) and Drug Possession of a Class D Substance (Marijuana) with Intent to Distribute. Viera currently has an open Heroin Trafficking case in Barnstable Superior Court and Johnson has an open Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Oxycodone case in Barnstable District Court.
Russell Viera was held without bail and Chelsea Johnson’s bail was set at $5000. They are being held at the Barnstable Police station and will be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Monday on the new narcotics charges.
2/8/2015
Robert Bastille,
P.S. – Tonight’s HyTown Vignette is brought to you by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young… [Press play it again… loudly, if you will… 😉 ]
