Well-being Check Leads to Discovery of a ‘Drug Den’

-By Joseph Domelowicz

For the Transcript

Winthrop police responding to a request for a well-being check after a Crest Avenue man threatened suicide following a break-up with his girlfriend, subsequently arrested and charged the heartbroken Romeo on a variety of drug charges, after illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

Anthony Steven Forte, 21, of 53 Crest Avenue was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a class B substance and one of distributing a class B substance. Further investigation of the situation by Winthrop detectives and an interview with Forte led to additional charges being sought against Forte and two alleged roommates, Jonathan Bourinot, 23 and Katerina Sarah Sliker, 21.

The additional charge against Forte was for possession of a class A substance (heroin). Charges against Bourinot include possession of a class A substance (heroine), possession of a class A substance (oxycodone), and possession of a class A substance with intent to distribute within 100 feet of a playground (Crest Avenue playground), while a single charge of possession of a class A substance (heroin) was sought against Sliker.

“I am pleased by the level of cooperation and effort that is now being put into eradicating drugs from our neighborhoods,” said Chief Terence Delehanty, who added that responding officers were at the scene of the alleged drug den, because Forte’s ex-girlfriend reported receiving electronic photographs of him with bleeding cuts on both his wrists, following a break-up on the evening of March 30, 2011.

According to police reports from the original incident and the follow-up investigation, responding officers went to 53 Crest Avenue at approximately 10:56 p.m. on March 30, because Forte’s girlfriend reported the images and threatened suicide message from Forte, which she received on her phone.

After trying unsuccessfully for several minutes to make contact with inhabitants inside the building, officers called for emergency medical services and fire response to make a well being check of the premises.

Immediately after that, Forte answered the door and admitted the officers into his apartment. During an interview with the responding officers, as they awaited the medical and fire response, officers saw a pair of plastic baggies containing a white powder, which to them was consistent with the packaging of cocaine or other illegal drugs, sitting in plain view on a shelf.

Forte attempted to offer several explanations of the baggies, including that he was not the owner of the baggies or a legal resident of the apartment, but he was eventually taken into custody on the initial charges.

After being arrested and charged, Forte was interviewed by Winthrop drug detectives, a search warrant of the premises was executed, during which other evidence was seized that implicates Bourinot and Sliker, Forte’s alleged roommates.

“This case began with a patrol response to the scene, but as the situation developed, they called in the detectives unit and they were able to work together to build their case against the suspects,” explained Chief Delehanty. “This is a deposit on justice and I look forward to forging more efforts with our detectives, patrol and regional partners.”

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