Six arrested in South End “problem property” raid
BOSTON, January 16, 2025 – Six people were arrested this week in a search warrant operation on a problem property in the South End, with five charged with various drug charges in BMC Central and the sixth with an outstanding warrant, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
On Wednesday, members of the Area D-4 and A-1 Drug Control units along with members of the Human Trafficking Unit executed a search warrant in an apartment inside 231 West Newton Street.
In November, eight people were arraigned after a police action at the same residence, which has been the source of community complaints for years. Two of those arraigned today, both residents of 231 West Newton, were among those charged back in November. Their bails have been revoked.
In December alone police received over a dozen calls regarding drug use at this address.
In addition to the arrests, police seized crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine, Fentanyl, Quetiapine, Clonidine and Gabapentin pills.
Police contacted the city inspectional department due to the “complete disarray” they discovered in the property, including exposed hypodermic needles.
The following individuals were arrested as a result of the investigation:
· SCHANWAT WILAILAK, 37, (resident of 231 West Newton) charged with possession of a Class E substance. Wilailak was ordered held on $1,000 bail and his bail on an open drug case was revoked. He is due back in court on February 12 for a pre-trial hearing.
· MICHAEL COLLINS, 66, (resident of 231 West Newton) charged with possession of Class B and Class E substances. Collins was held on $1,000 bail and his bail on an open drug case was revoked. He is due back in court on February 12 for a pre-trial hearing.
· JUAN POLA JR., 54, was charged with possession of a Class A substance and possession to distribute a Class A substance. Pola was ordered held on $5,000 bail and is due back in court on February 12 for a pre-trial hearing.
· SYDNEY CURRIER, 37, was charged with possession of a Class A substance. Currier was ordered held on $1,000 bail and is due back in court on February 12 for a pre-trial hearing.
· ANGEL LARA-BAEZ, 37, was charged with possession of a Class B substance. Lara-Baez was ordered held on $1,000 and his bail on two other open cases was revoked. He is due back in court on February 11 for a pre-trial hearing.
· WARREN KENYON, 30, outstanding resisting arrest and shoplifting warrant out of Norfolk County. Kenyon was transported to Quincy District Court.
"This second round of arrests makes perfectly clear that Boston police and our prosecutors have every intention of keeping the pressure on this address. This neighborhood and the law-abiding people that reside in it don’t deserve to have their quality of life degraded by this problem property,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications