Police Arrest Two After Months-Long Crack Cocaine Investigation

A drug investigation spanning several months resulted in the arrest of two Cape Cod men on Friday, according to an announcement by the Barnstable Police Department. 

"Barnstable Narcotics Detectives have been conducting a crack cocaine distribution investigation targeting 35-year-old Marcel Young," Barnstable police wrote in the statement. "During the investigation, numerous controlled purchases of crack cocaine were conducted from Young in the Mid Cape area."

The investigation led police detectives to obtain a search warrant for Young, and on Friday, July 19, Barnstable narcotics detectives and the Barnstable Street Crimes Unit organized a surveillance of Young at a motel in Yarmouth, according to the announcement. 

Police followed Young to a nearby convenience store, where they witnessed him conduct a drug transaction. Barnstable Det. Sgt. Mellyn and SCU Officer's Sexton and Ambrosini approached Young's rental car and witnessed a large plastic bag, which contained smaller bags of cocaine, in Young's hand as he sat in the driver's seat of the car, according to the announcement. 

Police removed Young from the car and seized the cocaine; he was found to be in possession of 28 individual bags of cocaine weighing about 22 grams. Police arrested him and charged him with trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws. 

Police also arrested Clifford Reed, 40, of Harwich, who had been sitting in the front passenger seat of Young's vehicle. Reed was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of the Controlled Substance Act after police caught him selling marijuana to a customer in the rental vehicle as Young was caught selling the cocaine. 

Subsequently, detectives obtained a warrant for Young's motel room in Yarmouth. Officer Assad, who was assigned to the street crimes unit from the Mashpee Police Department, was called to the room, along with Lola, a narcotics-detecting K9. They discovered two large bags of cocaine hidden in a rolled pair of socks belonging to Young, weighing in at about 63 grams. The total amount of crack and powder cocaine police seized from young had a street value of more than $9,000, according to the announcement. 

Young was indicted in Barnstable Superior Court for possession with intent to distribute heroin, subsequent offense, and possession to distribute cocaine, subsequent offense. 

He was ordered held without bail, while Reed was released on personal recognizance. Both were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, July 22.