Police and Fire News

Barnstable police say they've nabbed major drug dealer

One of largest drug and cash seizures in history of department

This was the large collection of confiscated drugs, cash and guns at Barnstable PD this afternoon.

Barnstable police say Jimmy Smith is major Cape drug dealer; they execute search warrant, and impound drugs, cash, guns and cars

Story & photos by James Kinsella

HYANNIS - Barnstable police on Tuesday made one of the largest drug and cash seizures in the history of the department.

Barnstable police identified Jimmy Smith of Cape Cod and Dorchester as a major drug supplier on Cape Cod.

The seizure is linked to Monday's arrest of Jimmy Smith, 28, of Cape Cod and Dorchester, who Barnstable police identified as a major drug supplier on Cape Cod. Police said Smith sold drugs to other dealers on the Cape.

Executing a search warrant Tuesday at 5 Shagbark Road in Sandwich, police said they found $264,710 in cash; heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and Ecstasy with an estimated street value of more than $400,000; instruments such as a scale used in measuring and preparation of drugs for sale; and two 12-gauge shotguns, a 9-millimeter machine pistol, and a .45 caliber pistol.

As part of the case, police also impounded a 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS 500, which sold for up to $75,000 when new, and a Cadillac, both shown at the police station (below.) Smith was riding in the Mercedes Benz when stopped and arrested by police on Tuesday evening.

Barnstable police said the seizure followed a yearlong investigation into heroin and cocaine distribution.

Det. Lieut. Sean Balcom said the focus of the investigation, Jimmy Smith (above, in his booking photo), who grew up in Hyannis and served time for manslaughter, has been a major player in drug trafficking on the Cape for the past decade.

Police said the investigation involved a series of undercover purchases of heroin and cocaine from Smith and other members of his organization.

Last Thursday, members of the Barnstable Police Narcotics Unit arrested four individuals for trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act. They were John Viust, 17, of Hyannis; Tyrone Gomes, 23, of Wareham; Matthew Amick, 17, of Hyannis; and Sadie Souther, 19, of Yarmouth.

The four individuals were arrested, police said, after detectives observed them meeting with Smith and buying two ounces of cocaine. Following the arrest, detectives seized $10,000 in cash.

Police said Smith ran from the vehicle after assaulting a police officer. He was arrested for conspiracy, trafficking heroin and trafficking cocaine after police found about 40 grams of heroin and 17 grams of cocaine in his car.

On Monday, police said, detectives learned Smith would be delivering a lot of drugs to a Hyannis address. At about 10:30 p.m., two Barnstable detectives stopped Smith in his Mercedes as he pulled into the address.

Police said Smith ran from the vehicle after assaulting a police officer. He was arrested for conspiracy, trafficking heroin and trafficking cocaine after police found about 40 grams of heroin and 17 grams of cocaine in his car.

Smith's passenger, Clifford Reed, 35, of Hyannis was charged with conspiracy, trafficking cocaine and trafficking heroin. Police also executed an arrest warrant on Reed charging assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, distribution of a Class B substance and carrying a dangerous weapon.

The following day, Lieutenant Balcom obtained a search warrant for Jimmy Smith's residence on Shagbark Road. Smith lives there with Anita Dixon, 25, and Domanic Torres, 22. The warrant was for evidence related to heroin and cocaine trafficking.

At about 2 p.m., members of the Barnstable Police Narcotics Unit, the state police Drug Task Force, the Sandwich Police Department and the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office executed the search warrant.

Inside the residence, police said, they recovered about 900 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of heroin, 26 Ecstasy tablets, $264,710 in cash, and the four guns.

Dixon and Torres had been over at Barnstable District Court, where they learned Smith would be held on $100,000 cash bail. Lieutenant Balcom said they then went back to the Shagbark Road house, apparently with the intent of picking up money to pay for the bail. They were arrested when they arrived at the residence.

"I want to say what a great job Lieutenant Balcom did. He's awesome."      
           - Chief Paul MacDonald

For about 10 years, Lieutenant Balcom said, Smith has been a wholesale dealer in illegal drugs, selling to other dealers. Police placed the wholesale value of the drugs, which were of high strength, at about $50,000.

Though police long knew that Smith was a major dealer, Lieutenant Balcom said, his reputation intimidated potential informants.

"This is a dangerous guy," the detective said in an interview Wednesday at the Barnstable police station. Pointing to the seized weapons on an evidence table, he said they would tend to dissuade potential informants for working for the police.

Lieutenant Balcom said Smith also made a point of moving around between multiple addresses and having an unpredictable schedule, even with his customers.

Charges have yet to be lodged against Smith for the drugs, weapons and cash found through the search warrant.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office will decide how to proceed in court against Smith.

Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald praised Lieutenant Balcom, who heads the Barnstable Police Narcotics Unit, for the work he did on the case."I want to say what a great job Lieutenant Balcom did," Chief MacDonald said Wednesday. "He's awesome."

Police also impounded a 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS 500, which sold for up to $75,000 when new, and a Cadillac.

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