Suspect waved a BB gun in police raid
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Suspect waved a BB gun in police raid
Split-second decision made
By Thomas Caywood and Edward J. Canty TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]
Worcester Police Capt. Paul B. Saucier,Police have a split second to make that decision, and these guys are carrying around these BB guns that look real. It puts you in a tough position because you can’t tell the difference.
COMMANDER, VICE AND GANG UNITS
WORCESTER— Members of the city vice squad who kicked in the door of an alleged drug house on Hancock Street this week came face to face with a man brandishing a handgun in a back bedroom, police said.
The man, Angel M. Serrano, 18, of 52 May St., Apt. 3A, allegedly tossed the pistol into a corner Thursday night before police officers were forced into a snap decision whether to pull the trigger on their service weapons or hesitate and risk taking a bullet.
The black-and-silver handgun allegedly waved by Mr. Serrano turned out to be a relatively harmless BB gun, but one designed to be a nearly exact replica of a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson Sigma Series pistol, with a removable magazine just like the real thing, according to Police Capt. Paul B. Saucier.
“Police have a split second to make that decision, and these guys are carrying around these BB guns that look real. It puts you in a tough position because you can’t tell the difference,” said Capt. Saucier, commander of the city vice and gang units.
The vice squad seized 56 packets of heroin, four bags of marijuana and two bags of crack cocaine, as well as $3,300 in cash found in a coat pocket, during the 6:30 p.m. raid of the first-floor apartment at 21 Hancock St., police said.
Officer Robert T. O’Rourke got a search warrant for the apartment after investigating complaints about drug dealing there from people in the neighborhood, Capt. Saucier said.
Anthony Sagardia, 26, who lives in the raided apartment, and Yesenia Rivera, 26, of 28 Hancock St., were each charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Mr. Sagardia, who police said threw down a wad of cash later determined to be $593, also was charged with possession of cocaine.
Ms. Rivera and Mr. Serrano, the man who allegedly brandished the BB gun as officers swarmed into the apartment, were each charged with possession of marijuana, police said.
Ms. Rivera and Mr. Serrano were each held on $2,500 cash bail at their arraignments yesterday afternoon in Central District Court. Mr. Sagardia was held without bail because of violation of probation from a previous case, said Timothy J. Connolly, a spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early.
Last edited:
