BOSTON, MA – A mid-morning surveillance operation in the city’s South End led to the arrest of two Boston residents Wednesday after officers observed what they believed to be a street-level drug transaction unfold in real time along Albany Street.
At about 10:25 a.m., officers assigned to the Neighborhood Engagement Safety Team (NEST) were conducting a drug investigation near 774 Albany Street when a supervising sergeant observed a woman approach a man and hand him a small item, which he placed into his sweatshirt pocket. Moments later, the same man was seen passing that item to another individual in exchange for cash.
Officers moved in after the two individuals separated, stopping one of the men, who will be summonsed to Boston Municipal Court for possession of a Class B substance.
Surveillance leads to arrests and drug recovery
As officers continued their response, 41-year-old Bryan Owens was stopped while walking on Albany Street and taken into custody. During an attempted search, Owens removed a plastic bag from his waistband and dropped it into a nearby sewer. Officers reported that the contents of the bag were visible.
Boston Water and Sewer crews were called to assist in retrieving the bag, which was found to contain six individually wrapped packages of crack cocaine. Officers also recovered $326 in cash from Owens.
Nearby, officers located 35-year-old Jessica Sageir across the street from the initial observation point. She was placed in handcuffs and searched. Officers recovered one plastic bag containing 16 grams of crack cocaine and another bag containing 26 individually wrapped smaller bags weighing a combined 5 grams. In total, 21 grams of crack cocaine were seized from Sageir.
Charges and outstanding warrants
Both suspects were taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
Owens faces charges of distribution of a Class B substance, possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance, and possession of a Class B substance.
Sageir faces charges of trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Following her arrest, officers determined she had four active warrants for suspended license, fugitive from justice, refusal to identify herself, and receiving stolen property under $1,200.
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