Brattleboro residents arrested on drug charges and illegal gun possession in Massachusetts | Local News

DEERFIELD, Mass. — Two Brattleboro residents were arrested on drug charges and illegal possession of a firearm while traveling on Interstate 91.

While positioned on the side of the road on May 20, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Hunter Ratelle observed a gray sedan pass him with an illegible rear registration tag. He caught up with the sedan and conducted a traffic stop, according to an MSP blog post.

Nicol Murano, 48, of Brattleboro, was driving and did not have a license to operate a vehicle. Two passengers – Kate Beam, 36, of Brattleboro and Najee Robertson, 35, of Bridgeport, Connecticut – also did not have valid licenses.

Officers found 224 grams of crack cocaine and a disassembled Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun with a 16-round magazine behind the driver's seat, according to the blog. None of the occupants of the car were authorized to carry a firearm.

They were all arrested and transported to the Shelburne Falls barracks where they were arrested, fingerprinted and photographed. They were arraigned in Greenfield District Court on charges of trafficking cocaine, conspiracy to violate the drug law, possession of a firearm without proper identification, possession of a firearm during a misdemeanor and possession of a large capacity power device.

Additional charges include unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and license plate violation for Murano, and firearm violation with a violent or drug crime for Robertson.