Fall River woman, Dorchester man arrested on drug and stolen vehicle charges in Dartmouth

DARTMOUTH, MA – According to Dartmouth Police, on Thursday, just before 6:15 p.m., Dartmouth detectives assigned to the Community Impact Unit conducted a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles query on a Honda Pilot, during which time they learned that it had been stolen out of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

After the vehicle turned into the Walgreens on State Road and parked, Detective Derek Sousa and Detective Matthew Correia observed the occupants enter the store.

Upon making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, Detectives Sousa and Correia identified them as 48-year-old Melvin Ward of Dorchester and 34-year-old Jessica Fernandes of Fall River.

During the subsequent investigation, suspected fentanyl was located on both parties. In addition, stolen property from Walgreens was also located on Ward.

As a result of this incident, both Ward and Fernandes were arrested.

Ward was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a Class A drug (suspected fentanyl), subsequent offense for possession of a Class A drug (suspected fentanyl), shoplifting (second offense), unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and four outstanding warrants.

Fernandes was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a Class A drug (suspected fentanyl), and one outstanding warrant.