Wilkins R. Diaz, 35, was arrested last week on Massachusetts Drug Crimes Charges for allegedly dealing in narcotics in the town of Rowley. Diaz is currently held on $25,000 on charges of Drug Trafficking in Heroin and Drug Violation in School Zone pending his arraignment Monday morning in Newburyport District Court.
According to the Rowley Police Department, Diaz was arrested following a joint investigation involving the Ipswich, Beverly, Danvers and Massachusetts State Police Departments. The investigation, according to police, led them to concentrate their focus on a green Honda Odyssey on Leslie Road in Rowley.
The officers conducting the investigation on February 18, however, noticed that a minivan passed the ‘target location’ a few times. Using the fact that the minivan had an expired inspection sticker as a pretext, officers pulled the minivan over and questioned the driver, which was Wilkins Diaz.
According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, officers questioning Diaz allegedly noticed a small bag of heroin on the floor of the vehicle near the driver’s side door. A more complete search of the car then allegedly revealed an additional 35 grams of heroin that was found in a ‘drug hide’ in the car, as well as $2,000 and other purported drug paraphernalia.
So wait a minute, the officers knowing that they can’t search the car without probable cause, miraculously discover a bag of heroin on the floor of a car where everything else was hidden in a secret compartment?
…I wouldn’t be surprised if what really happened was that Wilkins’ car was illegally search and, after the fact, they sought to justify the search by claiming they first observed a single bag of heroin just lying on the floor. …which scenario sounds more believable to you?
Either way, Wilkins should definitely challenge the lawfulness of the search of his car…
Boston Criminal Lawyer Lefteris K. Travayiakis has extensive experience in defending Massachusetts Drug Crimes and is available 24/7 for consultation.
To schedule a Free Consultation, Click Here to Contact a Boston Drug Lawyer or call 617-325-9500.