Dartmouth man charged wth fentanyl trafficking – News – southcoasttoday.com

Curt Brown @CurtBrown_SCT

DARTMOUTH — A Dartmouth man was arrested Wednesday on fentanyl trafficking charges after a motor vehicle stop, according to court records.

Steven E. Medeiros, 51, of 28 College Lane, Apartment 2, Dartmouth, is charged with trafficking fentanyl more than 10 grams and a marked lanes violation, records in New Bedford District Court indicate.

A Dartmouth detective said he observed Medeiros operating a 2017 Jeep Wrangler erratically in the 200 block of Chase Road as the suspect was traveling south on the roadway about 10:55 a.m. Wednesday, court records say. The driver drifted over the fog line on the right side of Chase Road three times.

The vehicle was stopped and the detective found 22 grams of fentanyl in Medeiros’ possession, court records say. Also found were an Apple iPhone and $1,911 in cash, which were seized by police. The detective said he filed a preliminary police report and a more detailed report will be filed later.

Medeiros was arraigned on the charges Wednesday in New Bedford District Court and a dangerousness hearing was held at the request of Bristol County prosecutors, according to court records. The DA’s office also filed a motion for forfeitures.

Judge Paul G. Pino found Medeiros to be a danger to public safety, but did not decide to hold him without bail for 120 days, court records say.

Instead, Pino released Medeiros on conditions. The judge set bail at $5,000 cash and ordered Medeiros to report to the Probation Department at New Bedford District Court two times a week in person and to submit to a substance abuse evaluation and treatment as necessary.

Medeiros has 1988 conviction for operating under the influence, according to court records.

The case was continued until April 5 for a probable cause hearing in New Bedford District Court, records indicate.

Follow Curt Brown on Twitter @CurtBrown_SCT