East Bridgewater and Rockland Police teamed up to arrest a Brockton man who was the target of a large-scale fentanyl investigation. A Rockland woman was arrested on Monday.
Acting East Bridgewater Chief Michael Jenkins says 23-year-old Ruben De Pina is facing gun and drug trafficking charges after a crash in town.
He was arraigned on charges that include trafficking cocaine, carrying a firearm without a license (third offense), and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. A dangerousness hearing was scheduled for June 20th.
On Sunday around 7 p.m., an officer saw a black Toyota sedan traveling on Pleasant Street, at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop was started, but as the officer approached the vehicle, De Pina was accused of driving away. His vehicle crashed near North Central Street, and De Pina was arrested. He was transported to the hospital for evaluation. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital.
A search of De Pina’s vehicle found a loaded handgun, and 24 grams of a white, rock-like substance. De Pina was a suspect in a drug trafficking investigation by the FBI Boston Metro Gang Task Force. Four controlled purchases were conducted with him.
On Monday, FBI, and Rockland Police executed a search of a home on 266 Plain Street. During the search, police say three firearms and 215 grams of fentanyl were located.
In other areas, police located 289 grams of fentanyl and another firearm. 36-year-old Erika Myllmaki was arrested and faces gun and drug trafficking charges. She was arraigned in Hingham District Court.
