PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A raid on Brown Street on Tuesday resulted in the arrests and arraignments of three men described by authorities as large-scale drug traffickers.
Kareem Archibald, 25, and Maurice Simmons, 33, both of the Bronx, N.Y., and Jah'Rell J. Mayes, 22, of Pittsfield, were arraigned Wednesday in Pittsfield District Court on numerous charges including trafficking in heroin and cocaine.
Archibald and Simmons are both being held on $100,000 bail and Mayes on $50,000 bail.
Law enforcement said they identified the suspects and the suspected trap house, an apartment unit on Brown Street, based on an extensive investigation leading up to their arrests.
Police said the three men were arrested Monday at about 12:52 p.m. after walking out of 30 Brown. Simmons was wearing a satchel and Archibald and Mayes both carried backpacks.
Archibald and Simmons were handcuffed without issue. Mayes fled and was later apprehended on Oak Street. All the bags recovered by law enforcement contained drugs and other evidence of drug dealing, according to police.
The Berkshire County Special Response Team executed a knock and announce search warrant at the house at 1:35 on Tuesday. No one was found inside when the warrant was executed but law enforcement recovered guns, ammunition, drugs, cash, and other items that they say indicated the house was used as a central location for drug dealing.
Combined, law enforcement recovered approximately $20,729 in cash; approximately 146 grams of cocaine (worth between $7,300 to $14,600); multiple digital scales (digital scales are used to weigh drugs); numerous cell phones (drug dealers often possess multiple cell phones to communicate with other dealers and customers); an illegal firearm; and an illegal ammunition.
"I do not tolerate large-scale drug trafficking in the Berkshires," said Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. "Once again, the Task Force conducted a comprehensive investigation and taken action to apprehend individuals brining drugs and violence. We will ensure that these individuals are held accountable for their actions.
