Excessive Speed Leads To Drug Bust and Prison

WOBURN, MA -- Speeding along Route 2A in Concord wouldn't have sent Eliezer Ravelo to prison, but the heroin and cocaine police found in his car did.

The 34-year-old Lowell man was sentenced on Thursday to 3 1/2-years in state prison after a minor traffic stop for speeding in Concord last September turned into a car chase, a foot chase and then the discovery of heroin and cocaine in his car.

"I am guilty,'' Eliezer Ravelo told Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman on Thursday. "They found them (the drugs) on me,'' he admitted.

Tutteman sentenced Ravelo to 3 1/2 years in prison followed by three years probation after he pleaded guilty to trafficking in heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - subsequent offense, operating to endanger, resisting arrest, operating a motor vehicle after license suspension and failure to stop for police.

Prosecutor Terence Kiernan explained that on Sept. 30, 2016, police were patrolling Route 2A in Concord when they tried to stop a car, driven by Ravelo, for speeding. Instead of stopping, Ravelo hit the gas, driving into oncoming traffic to try to escape, Kiernan said.

But Ravelo lost control of the vehicle, fishtailed and crashed into a wooded area. He jumped from the car and led police on a short foot chase, after which he was caught but still resisted arrest.

Ravelop has a prior conviction for drug offenses out of Lowell District Court.

Defense attorney David Larsen described the agreed upon plea as a "fair sentence.''

Photo of Eliezer Ravelo by Lisa Redmond/lisa.redmond@patch.com.