By Jim Clark

On the evening of Friday, May 18, Somerville Police Drug Control Unit undercover officers conducting surveillance operations at a Highland Ave. location took notice of an individual police knew had prior involvement in the use of heroin and fentanyl walking in the direction of School St.

This person has been the victim of drug overdoses in the past and also has been present when police respond to drug overdoses of other individuals.

According to reports, police have also arrested one of the man’s drug distributors after he was involved with his distributor in a drug transaction. During that incident, the man reportedly purchased fentanyl from his distributor and the drug was also recovered from his distributor, who was arrested by the Drug Control Unit.

Based on the man’s behavior, which included talking to someone on his cell phone and looking around repeatedly, the officers felt that he might be going to meet someone to purchase narcotics.

The man made his way to the corner of Madison St. and Sycamore. A few minutes later two drove onto Madison St. from Sycamore and the man under surveillance entered the vehicle, which drove off down Madison St. Rolling surveillance was maintained by police, and the man was spotted exiting the vehicle while it was stopped at the red light.

Officers then approached the man for questioning. A detective grabbed the man’s arms to prevent him from putting anything in his mouth and swallowing potential evidence. The man was asked to open his mouth, but he indicated to police that what they were looking for was in his pocket.

Police reportedly recovered a 1.5 gram baggie of an off white powdery substance which was believed to be heroin or fentanyl.

The vehicle took a right onto Highland Ave. heading west bound, after the occupants apparently observed the man being detained by detectives. One officer then pretended to be a pedestrian crossing the street slowly to prevent the vehicle’s occupants from fleeing the area. At this point a detective turned around and showed his police badge and identified himself as a police officer.

Police observed that the vehicle was put in reverse gear in what was believed to be an attempt to flee. A detective then drew his firearm and ordered the males to put the car in park.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Darryll Chefils, of Roslindale, was placed him into handcuffs for officer safety. The passenger, later identified as Jamison Gaston, of Dorchester, stepped out of the vehicle and he was also placed into handcuffs for officer safety.

All Three suspects were then separated and were read their Miranda warnings.

Cherfils was asked where he and Gaston were coming from prior to being stopped by police. Cherfils reportedly stated that he just came from a pizza place in Cambridge. He was then asked if he met up with anyone or if anyone entered his car after he left the restaurant to when he was stopped by the police, to which Cherfils replied that he hadn’t. Cherfils was asked if there was any illegal narcotics in the vehicle and he reportedly stated there something in the vehicle.

Gaston was asked the same series of questions and reportedly told police that he was just picked up by Cherfils from a house located on Highland Ave. Gaston was asked if he and Cherfils had picked up anyone or met anyone prior to the motor vehicle stop and Gaston reportedly stated they did not.

The man under surveillance was asked what the substance was that was in his pocket. He reportedly told police that he was not sure but he believed it to be fentanyl.

In searching the vehicle, police located one hundred dollars of US currency in the center console of the vehicle, consistent with how much 1.5 gram of heroin or fentanyl would cost.

Police also reportedly found a white plastic bag that was tied in a knot on the front passenger side floorboard. Inside that bag was a grey plastic bag tied in a knot. Inside that bag was six plastic baggies containing an off white powdery substance which is believed to be heroin or fentanyl.

Cherfils was asked who the bag belonged to, but did not answer. Gaston was also asked the same question, and he reportedly stated that nothing in the car was his.

Cherfils and Gaston were then placed under arrest, both on charges of trafficking in heroin-morphine-opium and distribution of a class B drug.

The man who was initially surveilled by police will be summonsed into court at a later date for possession of a Class B substance.