Two people are facing a stack of charges in Winthrop after police say a stolen car took off on Revere Street, sparked a brief chase, and ended with a foot pursuit and a drug seizure on Tuesday.
Officers spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen earlier in the day and moved in for a stop on Revere Street. When an officer approached, police say the driver hit the gas, then the occupants ditched the car and ran before officers caught up with them. According to police, fentanyl and cocaine were later recovered from the vehicle.
According to Winthrop Public Safety, the suspects are 34-year-old Briana Bottari of Revere and 39-year-old James Warner of Boston. Bottari is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, use without authority, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Warner is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and use without authority. Officials also noted that Bottari was wanted on two outstanding warrants, and that officers recovered items from the vehicle consistent with street-level distribution.
How the stop unfolded
As reported by Boston 25 News, officers were first alerted to the allegedly stolen car on Tuesday and stopped it while it was traveling on Revere Street. When an officer approached the vehicle, it sped off, and the two occupants took off on foot shortly afterward before being taken into custody. Boston 25 also noted that the department’s photo of a Winthrop police cruiser used in its coverage was credited to Winthrop PD’s Facebook page.
Legal implications
Possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance such as fentanyl is a felony under state law and can carry penalties of up to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $10,000 for a first offense, with stiffer mandatory sentences for repeat convictions, per Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 94C §32. Receiving a stolen motor vehicle and use without authority are separate crimes that can add additional penalties if the defendants are convicted.
The department posted the case details on its official site, and local outlets picked up the story. The arrests remain allegations, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
