Man arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine

FITCHBURG » After undercover officers saw what they believed to be a drug transaction and attempted to take the seller into custody, the alleged suspect pepper sprayed an officer and fled on foot, according to court

and police documents.

Undercover officers said David S. Taylor, 61, of Cedar Street, had just finished a hand-to-hand drug transaction when they moved in to arrest him last Thursday.

As one of the officers approached Taylor, the officer was pepper sprayed and Taylor fled on foot, the officers reported.

The other officer gave chase and eventually took Taylor into custody, police said. Once arrested he was asked if he had any illegal narcotics on him and Taylor said yes, in his boots, the officers report.

Two plastic baggies with crack cocaine inside, one in each boot, were seized. The gross weight of the drug was 18 grams with one bag containing more than 50 individual packages of crack, the officers reported.

As a result, Taylor was charged with trafficking more than 18 and less than 36 grams of cocaine and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to court documents.

When arraigned on Friday, Taylor was ordered held in lieu of posting a $1,000 cash bail or $10,000 surety bond and that he be screened for illegal drugs during the subsequent court appearances, according to court documents.

He will return to court on March 31 for a pretrial hearing.

Police looking for alleged drug dealer

A suspected drug dealer, who successfully avoided being arrested last week during an undercover operation, had a warrant for his arrest issued when he failed to appear in court for his arraignment on drug charges Friday.

Police said Matthew Donahue, 30, of Carriage Way Drive, was spotted by undercover officers in the Salvation Army parking lot conducting a drug transaction from his motor vehicle.

When officers moved in, Donahue fled on foot, leaving the motor vehicle he was in running, the officers reported.

The motor vehicle was searched and three plastic baggies were discovered, one containing cocaine and the other two containing what appeared to be heroin or fentanyl, the officers reported.

The officers couldn’t locate Donahue and as a result had a warrant issued for his arrest.

He failed to show for his scheduled court appearance on Friday and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued by the judge, according to court documents.