On a known stretch of Acushnet Avenue this past Tuesday night, a routine police operation disrupted what detectives say was a drug deal in progress. According to a Facebook post by the New Bedford Police Department, 26-year-old Jacob Matthew-Almeida was arrested and faces multiple charges, including illegal possession of a high-capacity firearm.
Matthew-Almeida's arrest resulted from a covert observation by detectives, who witnessed the transaction between him and a woman identified as Tatiana Irizarry. Upon making their approach, officers discovered a loaded .45 caliber Sig Sauger P250, as well as crack cocaine and items indicating drug distribution activities. The suspect, a resident of 104 Peckham Street Apt. #2, apparently has a history with the law, with previous convictions for offenses such as assault and battery, and currently had six open cases in the New Bedford District Court.
Tatiana Irizarry, the alleged buyer in this transaction, also faces legal troubles. At 31, Ms. Irizarry of 56 Acorn Street, has been charged with possession of crack cocaine and conspiracy. Both she and Matthew-Almeida now find themselves in the gears of the criminal justice system, awaiting the next steps in their respective cases.
The officer responsible for the arrest, Detective Emily Pacheco, is part of a larger team dedicated to weeding out narcotics-related activities in New Bedford. The police are encouraging anyone with further information to come forward, ensuring confidentiality through their tip line. Interested parties can submit information via phone call to 508-99-CRIME or through the department's website, as noted in the post detailing the arrest. For the community of New Bedford, these arrests represent not just the work of law enforcement, but a continuing battle against the grip of narcotics in their city streets.
