BOSTON, July 1, 2015—Residents’ complaints about drug activity in East Boston helped lead Boston Police to arrest a convicted drug dealer yesterday – less than a month after another arrest in the same neighborhood for the same offense, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

DAVID FERNANDEZ (D.O.B. 10/6/72) was arraigned yesterday in East Boston Municipal Court on charges of distribution of a Class A substance as a subsequent offense and possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance as a subsequent offense.  According to prosecutors, Fernandez has prior convictions for drug distribution-related offenses in 1990, 1993, and 1995.

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Emily Hamrock, Judge John McDonald imposed $5,000 bail on the current case and revoked Fernandez’s bail on an open drug distribution case for which he was arraigned earlier this month.

Boston Police patrolling in the area of Eagle Hill yesterday in response to community complaints about drug activity observed a man enter a black Chevy pickup truck operated by Fernandez and watched the two men take part in what officers believed to be a drug transaction.  The man then exited the truck and Fernandez began to drive from the area.

Officers approached the man as he walked away and determined that he was carrying two plastic baggies of heroin.

Additional officers approached Fernandez’s vehicle as it was stopped in traffic on Chelsea Street; as they did so, they observed Fernandez watching them in a side view mirror.  He then appeared to reach toward the rear passenger side floorboard.  Officers observed that the area where Fernandez was seen reaching was covered in a tan powder believed to be heroin along with several empty plastic bags.  Approximately 5 grams of loose heroin was recovered.

At the time of his arrest, Fernandez was out on bail after his June 2 arrest on similar charges in Maverick Square by officers in the area in response to citizen concerns about drug activity.  On that date, officers observed a man enter a vehicle driven by Fernandez for a short ride during which an alleged drug transaction occurred.  The passenger was found to be in possession of heroin after exiting the vehicle; Fernandez was arrested with four baggies of heroin, two cell phones, and $334.

Fernandez was represented by Brendan King.  He returns to court July 20.

–30–

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.