Police Arrest Two in Drug Sting

Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty reported that two suspected drug dealers have been arrested in Winthrop, after a successful surveillance operation that was initiated when residents on a street in Winthrop reported to police that they had noticed what they felt was drug-related behavior occurring around a home on the street.

“Over the past several months, the Chief’s office was notified that people occupying 55 Sunnyside Ave. apartment 1 were engaged in drug activity. Soon thereafter, a surveillance operation was conducted which confirmed the reports that we received from the neighborhood,” explained Chief Delehanty. “On July 30, 2012 the Winthrop Police along with the State Police and Revere Police Departments raided 55 Sunnyside Ave. after observing a drug purchase. Two drug dealers and two occupants of the home were arrested as a result of our investigation.”

Arrested as they tried to drive out of town were the suspected drug dealers, Pedro Jose Rodriguez, 27, of 122 Chestnut St. Apt. 1 in Lynn and Juan Delarose, 30, of 36 Timson Street in Lynn. Both were charged with distribution of a class A drug (heroin) and Conspiracy to violate the drug laws,

According to Delehanty, the names of the suspects who are accused of purchasing the drugs are being withheld, because the investigation is on-going.

The official report outlining the surveillance operation that resulted in the arrests indicated that police officer observation and a covert surveillance camera hidden on the street had captured the alleged drug purchases, leading to the arrests.

The two dealers who were arrested are accused of selling drugs to the victims more than 100 times over the past three months, sometimes as often as twice a day.

“This is another example of good, solid cooperation between the police department and the neighborhood,” said Chief Delehanty. “When we get good information about criminal activity that is on-going in our neighborhoods, we can direct the resources we need to make sure the suspects are caught and arrested.”