43-year-old man held without bail in Fall River Superior Court on multiple drug charges

A local man was arraigned in Fall River Superior Court Thursday morning on multiple drug charges.

According to police, back in April, Officers Brandon Antone and James Mello of the department’s Patrol Bureau conducted a motor vehicle stop when the operator, later identified as 43-year-old Miguel Saavedra, suddenly exited the vehicle. Officers gave verbal commands for Saavedra to return to the vehicle, but he failed to comply and fled the scene.

A brief foot pursuit ensued, and officers successfully apprehended Saavedra a short distance away.

During a search of the vehicle, officers located a plastic bag containing a white substance believed to be crack cocaine (approximately 19.5 grams), along with 81 blue glassine bags containing a substance believed to be fentanyl. In addition, officers also recovered drug distribution paraphernalia, including a digital scale and a box of plastic sandwich bags.

Saavedra was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including Trafficking Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance (Fentanyl), and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License – along with other motor vehicle infractions.

He pled not guilty and was arraigned in Fall River District Court and was held on $5,000 bail.

According to court records, on August 21st, Saavedra was indicted in Fall River Superior Court on Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Subsequent Offense, Possession With Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Subsequent Offense, and Trafficking 36-99 Grams of Cocaine.

At arraignment this morning, Saavedra pled not guilty and was held without bail pending the result of a dangerousness hearing.

He has a pretrial conference scheduled for October 9th.