The Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, working with Taunton Police and Troopers assigned to the State Police Detective Unit for Bristol County, got another illegally-owned loaded firearm out of the hands of a suspected drug trafficker last Wednesday.

On the morning of June 6, State Troopers and Taunton officers assigned to the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force went to a home at 101 Whittenton Street in Taunton to execute a search warrant. Surveillance of the home had revealed that the target of a narcotics investigation, Edward Green Jr., 33, of Apartment #1 at that address, was standing on the front porch smoking a cigarette.

Task Force members pulled up in front of the home to engage Green, who saws them and ran back into the residence. Troopers and officers announced several times that they had a search warrant as they chased Green into the first floor apartment. Simultaneously, other Task Force members made entry through a side door.

Task Force members observed Green run into an occupied bathroom in the apartment and try to hide in the shower. Green then fled into the kitchen where he violently resisted attempts by Troopers and Officers to subdue him. The suspect repeatedly punched and kicked at the Task Force members while stating that he wasn’t going anywhere. After a lengthy physical confrontation Troopers were able to secure Green, who continued to be defiant and resistant and tried unsuccessfully several times to flee the kitchen.

Because of Green’s ongoing physical tirade, four police detectives had to carry him to a cruiser, the backseat window of which he tried to kick out during the transport to the State Police Barracks in Middleboro.

Troopers and Officers then searched the residence and located the following items:

  • In the toilet in the bathroom in which Green had fled, a Coca-Cola can with a false top and hidden compartment, which contained plastic twists holding approximately 25 grams of a hard white substance believed to be cocaine and 13 red pills believed to be Ecstasy;
  • In a living room coffee table, a baggie containing nearly 5 grams of a substance also believed to be cocaine and $732 in US currency;
  • Under a cushion of the living room couch, another plastic twist holding nearly 3.5 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine;
  • In the kitchen, a powder suspected of being a cutting agent to mix with drugs prior to sale; and
  • On a rafter in the basement ceiling, a purple sock containing a Ruger LCP .380 pistol loaded with six rounds, one in the chamber.

Green was booked at State Police-Middleboro on the following offenses:

  • Unlawful possession of a firearm, second offense;
  • Unlawful possession of ammunition;
  • Commission of a firearm violation while having committed three prior violent or drug crimes;
  • Trafficking in cocaine;
  • Possession of a Class B substance, cocaine, with intent to distribute, subsequent offense;
  • Possession of a Class B substance, Ecstasy, with intent to distribute;
  • Assault and battery on a police officer; and
  • Resisting arrest.

He was expected to be arraigned in Taunton District Court last week.