Header Image: Edward Gillespie
The Barnstable Police Department’s detective unit arrested an island resident who was allegedly preparing to transport a kilogram of cocaine from Hyannis to Nantucket on Thursday, January 8th at approximately 11 a.m.
“As a result of an ongoing investigation initiated by the Barnstable Police, 62-year-old Edward Gillespie was identified as a narcotics supplier, trafficking cocaine from Hyannis to the island,” Barnstable Police stated in a press release. “Following Gillespie’s arrest, the Barnstable Police Detective Unit was granted a search warrant for his Nantucket residence. With the support of the Nantucket Police Detective Unit, United States Coast Guard, and resident Cape Cod DEA office, a search of Gillespie’s home yielded additional quantities of cocaine, amphetamines, evidence of narcotics trafficking, and approximately $10,000 in US currency.”
According to the police report, officers dispatched to the area of Bay Street in Hyannis on Tuesday, January 6th at 7:49 p.m. to speak to an individual who said he found a package on the side of Old Colony Road in Hyannis containing a white powdery substance he believed was cocaine.
Once back at the station, the reporting party admitted he located it inside of the trunk of a vehicle he was attempting to steal from. The reporting party told police his intention was to steal the vehicle and used a screwdriver to pry open the steering column to manipulate the ignition cylinder, but the car wouldn’t start.
After the failed attempt to start vehicle, the individual went to the truck to look for valuables and lifted the spare tire well. That was when he found a Target bag containing a duct taped package.
“After inspecting the package further, (redacted) said he got scared when he realized the package contained drugs and didn’t want the drugs in his possession,” the report says. “(The reporting party) also stated that he was unsure what to do with the drugs, which is why he contacted the Barnstable Police Department to get rid of them.”
The reporting party directed the police and their detective unit to a private commuter parking lot at the corner of Bay Street and Old Colony Road where he identified a gray Kia Forte. The vehicle was registered to Edward Gillespie, of Nantucket, and police immediately observed the driver’s door handle on the ground and the vehicle’s ignition pried open.
The Barnstable Police seized approximately 1,141 grams of cocaine, 68 grams of Amphetamine pills and approximately $10,000 in cash from the vehicle following their investigation. They were also granted two search warrants from the Barnstable District Court – one to install a pole camera directed at the vehicle and another to install a GPS tracking device on the vehicle.
On January 8th at 10:26 a.m., detectives observed a male party, later identified as Gillespie, while monitoring the pole camera walk directly to the rear of the vehicle and open the trunk. After looking into the trunk, he was observed shutting the trunk and entering the driver’s side of the vehicle. Approximately 30 seconds later, he exited the vehicle, returned to the trunk, and lifted the spare tire well exposing the compartment below where the narcotics were located by the reporting party.
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