Massachusetts Woman Arrested On Drug Dealing Charge In Salem

SALEM, NH — A Massachusetts woman was arrested Tuesday on drug dealing and possession charges in Salem after being accused of selling fentanyl to a confidential source with an undercover police officer.

Around 3:30 p.m., police officers used a confidential source to line up a drug purchase from a dealer in the Lawrence and Methuen area of the Bay State. The source placed an order for five fingers, 50 grams, of fentanyl, valued at about $1,250, with the deal to be held at Chili's on South Broadway Street.

"All of the preparation for the controlled purchase was done through text messages between the (source) and the target," the detective said in an affidavit, with surveillance set up in the parking lot.

The detective said the drug dealer was sending "his girl" to make the deal but no women showed up. But, about an hour later, the target told the source she would be there soon and then, confirmed her arrival via text message, the affidavit alleged.

The detective saw a Nissan SUV with Massachusetts plates at a traffic light and presumed she was the "runner" the target sent to make the transaction. Since the runner was late, the target said they could take $150 off the purchase price, the report said. The driver was then seen opening the hood of the SUV, taking something out, and then returning to the front seat. The source was told to call the target and did, with the detective watching the source make the call, the affidavit stated. Later, the source got into the SUV for about a minute and then, exited the vehicle, giving a sign to the detective that it was a "good deal."

The source entered the detective's vehicle and handed over a clear plastic bag with a white-brown powdery substance later identified as heroin-fentanyl, about 50 grams, the affidavit said.

Detectives then moved in to arrest the woman, Kerri Madden, 38, of Lowell, MA, before she could leave the parking lot.

"While taking the female into custody," the report said, "detectives recovered more heroin-fentanyl on her person."

During processing, Madden was strip searched by another detective and accused of being in possession of crack cocaine. According to the affidavit, Madden was accused of selling 54 grams of heroin-fentanyl during the deal and being in possession of 61 grams of heroin-fentanyl in a second bag as well as the crack, the report said. She faces one felony drug dealing charge and two possession charges.

Madden was held without bail.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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