Four arrested in Wareham drug raid

Mar 13, 2014

Wareham Police arrested four people on various drug charges after executing a search warrant at a Swifts Beach home on Wednesday night.

According to police, Wareham detectives conducted a search at #4B Vernal St. at 7:50 p.m. on March 12 as a result of numerous citizen complaints regarding suspected drug activity at the residence.

Upon entering the home, detectives secured the residents, identified as 42-year-old Shawn Poppish and 56-year-old Janice Freeland.

During a search of the residence, detectives located what they described as crack cocaine, prescription medication pills, including amphetamines and methadone, $473 cash and drug paraphernalia, including plastic baggies, baking soda, and a digital scale. A police scanner was also seized.

Poppish and Freeland were placed in custody at the scene, both charged with Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute and 2 counts of Possession of a Class E Substance.

According to police, 30-year-old Michael Miranda of Wareham was noticed approaching the home during the search and was subsequently found to be in possession of Suboxone and various prescription medications, which have been preliminarily identified as Alprazolam and Lorazepam.

Miranda was placed into custody, charged with Possession of a Class B Substance (Suboxone) and Possession of a Class E Substance.

Just prior to entry of the home, detectives say they noticed a vehicle leaving the residence operated by 55-year-old Joseph Ravalese of Harwich, who was known to have an outstanding arrest warrant.

Ravalese was stopped and placed in custody by patrol officers. During a search of his vehicle, a small amount of crack cocaine was reportedly found under the driver’s seat. In addition to the arrest warrant, Ravalese was charged with Possession of a Class B Substance (cocaine).

The four individuals were scheduled to be arraigned at Wareham District Court on Thursday, March 13.