Two faced a judge Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court after previously being arrested on gun and drug trafficking charges.
According to the Taunton Police Department, on Wednesday, May 6th, Taunton Police were dispatched to the parking lot of a local business for a reported disturbance involving a firearm.
Officers learned that a man had allegedly been assaulted with a handgun at a nearby residence following an argument over money.
Taunton Police Patrol Division officers proceeded to a residence on Stanley Ave., safely made contact with the occupants, investigated the assault with the firearm, secured the scene, requested and executed a search warrant and arrested the offenders.
Patrol Division officers were assisted by members of the Taunton Police Street Crimes Unit, which investigates offenses involving narcotics, vice, gang activity and other neighborhood crimes.
Two residents, a male and a female later identified as 37-year-old Shawana Ann Leslie, of Taunton, and 47-year-old Douglas A. Norris, of Boston, were detained at the scene.
Following a search of the apartment, Taunton Police seized a Taurus handgun, five rounds of .380-caliber ammunition (inside a magazine loaded in the firearm), and two black backpacks containing suspected narcotics.
Inside the backpacks, Taunton Police found approximately 3.4 grams of soft powdery white substance suspected to be cocaine, 18 grams of a hard milky white rock-like substance suspected to be crack cocaine, approximately 76.4 grams of soft white powder suspected to be fentanyl, approximately 64.2 grams of soft off-white powder suspected to be fentanyl, 21 pressure-packed pre-rolled marijuana joints and two large plastic bags filled with marijuana buds.
Police also seized several items associated with drug distribution.
Leslie was arrested and charged with Reckless Endangerment of Child, Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, Accessory Before the Fact, Cocaine Trafficking (Greater than 18 Grams, but Less than 36 Grams), Fentanyl Trafficking (More than 10 Grams), and Improper Storage of a Firearm.
Norris was arrested and charged with Reckless Endangerment of Child, Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card (Subsequent Offense), Firearm Violation with 3 Prior Violent/Drug Crimes, Cocaine Trafficking (Greater than 18 Grams, but Less than 36 Grams), Fentanyl Trafficking (More than 10 Grams), and Improper Storage of a Firearm.
Leslie and Norris were arraigned in Taunton District Court on Thursday, May 7th.
Court records show that on Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court, Leslie pled not guilty and was held without bail pending the result of a detention hearing. A pretrial conference was scheduled for November 9th. She was indicted on charges of Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card, Fentanyl Trafficking (Greater than 100 Grams, but Less than 200 Grams), Cocaine Trafficking (Greater than 18 Grams, but Less than 36 Grams), Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Accessory Before the Fact, and Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card.
Norris pled not guilty and was held without bail pending the result of a detention hearing. A pretrial conference was scheduled for November 9th. He was indicted on charges of Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card, Fentanyl Trafficking (Greater than 100 Grams, but Less than 200 Grams), Cocaine Trafficking (Greater than 18 Grams, but Less than 36 Grams), Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card.
The investigating officer was Ptlm. Stephen Harrison; assisted by Taunton Police Patrol Division officers: Ptlm. John Reilly, Ptlm. Jonathan Benson, Ptlw. Amanda Martell, Ptlm. Aaron Ferreira, Ptlm. Matthew Letourneau, Sgt. Joshua Levesque and Lt. Drew Pacino. Patrol Division officers were assisted by Taunton Police Street Crimes Unit detectives: Det. Jeff Danner, Det. Joe Ryan, Det. Ryan Fitzgerald, and Det. Michael Creamer.
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
