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Worcester Police Department (Facebook)
WORCESTER — A 46-year-old man tried to hide a large bag of suspected crack cocaine down his pants as Worcester police moved to arrest him on drug trafficking charges, police said.
Members of the Worcester Police Department's Neighborhood Response Team were patrolling the Madison Street area on Thursday, September 3rd when they saw Salvatore Venuti pull a large clear bag from his backpack containing what police described as a baseball-sized, white rock-like substance that appeared to be crack cocaine.
When officers approached, Venuti turned his body and attempted to flee, police said. Officers were able to gain control of him, but police said Venuti then tried to put the bag of suspected crack cocaine down his pants.
Police said Venuti continued to resist officers by tensing his arms, pulling away and kicking in their direction. During the struggle, Venuti allegedly kicked the front bumper of a police cruiser, leaving a large dent.
Officers eventually handcuffed Venuti and placed him in the recovery position, police said.
A search of Venuti and his backpack turned up nine bags of suspected crack cocaine weighing a total of 35.35 grams, 8 bags of suspected fentanyl totaling 12.19 grams, a bag of suspected crystal methamphetamine and a bag of oxycodone pills weighing 42.79 grams, according to police.
Police said officers also recovered cash, a digital scale and a replica gun from Venuti's backpack.
Venuti was charged with trafficking between 18 and 36 grams of a Class B substance, crack cocaine; trafficking between 37 and 99 grams of a Class A substance, oxycodone; trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance, crystal methamphetamine.
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