Suspects in drug deal held without bail

By Dan Atkinson
Staff Writer

May 07, 2008 03:29 am

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NEWBURYPORT — Two men charged with drug trafficking over the weekend are being held without bail at Middleton Jail.

Alardy Gonzalez, 24, of 142 Dawes St., Lawrence, and Ryan Davis, 21, 275 Kimball Pond Road, Vienna, Maine, will have probable cause hearings on May 19. A woman arrested at the same time, Natalie Gaignard, 31, of 2143 Belgrade Road, Augusta, Maine, is being held on $25,000 cash bail pending a probable cause hearing.

Police arrested the three and another man Friday evening after reports of suspicious activity on Middle Road near Interstate 495. A resident followed cars thought to be involved in drug transactions and reported descriptions and license plate numbers to police. Merrimac officers pulled over one car while Amesbury police stopped the other.

According to police reports, Gonzalez had 126 grams of heroin and 65 grams of cocaine in a hidden compartment behind the headlight assembly, while Davis had a plastic bag containing 93 grams of cocaine stuffed down his pants.

Gonzalez told police he had gotten lost after dropping a friend off at Northern Essex Community College, and denied knowledge of the drugs in the car after they were discovered by K-9 Officer Kaybar.

According to police reports, Gonzalez said the car belonged to a friend and he said he would not take the rap for any drugs inside, later telling police that he would beat the car's owner for putting him in this situation.

But Davis told police he had been coming to Amesbury to buy drugs from Gonzalez every three weeks, according to reports. According to residents, suspicious meetings have been taking place in that area of Middle Street since early April.

According to police reports, Davis said he would give Gonzalez money, and Gonzalez would go away and count it before returning and tossing a bag into the car. Davis said Gonzalez was usually accompanied by another man during the exchange, but the man did not return from counting the money last Friday.

Gonzalez is charged with trafficking in heroin and cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Davis is charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of heroin, conspiracy to violate drug laws and possession of a Taser. Gaignard is charged with trafficking cocaine, being present where heroin was kept, possession of marijuana, conspiracy to violate drug laws, carrying a billy club and a marked lanes violation.