2 arrested, $50,000 in meth seized after routine traffic stop in Wellesley

By Melissa M. Werthmann, Globe Correspondent

Two men were arrested after a Wellesley police officer conducting a routine traffic stop found bags of crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated $50,000 and multiple stolen credit cards, said Wellesley police Lieutenant Marie Cleary.

The men, identified as Blake Galway, 30, of Somerville and Michael Scanlan, 44, of Dorchester, were charged with trafficking methamphetamine, distribution in a drug free school zone, conspiracy to violate drug laws, receiving stolen property, and receiving stolen credit cards, Cleary said. Galway, the driver, was also charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and failing to use a turn signal, she said.

Officer Christopher Cunningham was patrolling the Washington Street area in his cruiser just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Cleary said. Driving eastbound on the on-ramp to Worcester Street (Route 9), Cunningham noticed a blue pickup truck in front of him repeatedly hitting the brakes, she said.

The driver of the pickup truck turned onto Grantland Road without using a signal, then onto Cunningham Road, Cleary said. Because the road is a dead end, the officer waited for the driver to turn around.

The officer stopped the vehicle and the driver told him that he did not have a driver’s license in his possession, Cleary said. The driver has been identified as Blake Galway, 30, of Somerville, Cleary said. Michael Scanlan, 44, of Dorchester, the only passenger in the truck, also told the officer that he had no driver’s license or identification with him, Cleary said.

The men initially claimed to have the other’s name. Cunningham determined that both of their licenses had been suspended.

Because Scanlan did not have a valid license, the pickup truck needed to be towed from the scene. Per department policy, police took an inventory of the vehicle’s contents and found more than 170 grams of methamphetamines, Cleary said.

“Officer Cunningham located a container in the vehicle that had a glass pipe, which he recognized as those used to smoke illegal drugs,” Cleary said.

Police also found multiple credit, debit, and rewards cards that did not belong to Galway or Scanlan, she said, as well as a digital camera and accessories, iPad, sneakers, and an air brush system with markers and pens.

Police tracked down three individuals whose names were listed on the cards, Cleary said. The people told police that their cards had been used to make unauthorized purchases.

Police are investigating whether Galway and Scanlan made the purchases and hope to obtain video surveillance from stores where the items were bought, she said.

In a separate incident, Wellesely police arrested an alleged heroin dealer who had sold drugs to undercover officers over a period of several months, Cleary said.

Just before 4 p.m. Thursday, undercover detectives purchased two grams of heroin from the man and arrested him after he drove away from the location where the drug transaction took place.

The man has been identified as Melvin Emilio Hernandez, 21, of Dorchester, Cleary said.

The arrest was made at the intersection of Walnut and Cedar streets, she said.

Police also arrested Ramon Onesimo Soto-Feliz, 36, of Dorchester, who was in the vehicle with Hernandez on Thursday and had been present when undercover detectives bought heroin from Hernandez in the past.

A 17-year-old female, identified as Emily Altagracia Arias-Perez of Boston, was also in the car Thursday, but had not been in the vehicle when police bought heroin from Hernandez in the past. She was placed under arrest and released on her own personal recognizance.

The three suspects are charged with distribution of a Class A substance, distribution within a school zone, being present where heroin is being kept, and conspiracy to violate a drug law.

Hernandez and Soto-Feliz were held on $10,000 bail, Cleary said.

The three people are scheduled to be arraigned in Dedham District Court today.