Lynn man held on $150K bail for drugs

LYNN-A suspected drug trafficker was ordered held on $150,000 cash bail Monday after police searched his temporary home in Lynn and reportedly found a large amount of cocaine, heroin and packages to insure its distribution.Ernesto Alcala, 37, whose last known address was 230 Lantern Road, Revere, was arrested and charged with trafficking over 100 grams of a class A drug (heroin), trafficking over 28 grams of a class B drug (cocaine) and possession of narcotics in a school zone.Police searched his temporary residence, a room in the basement of 210 Eastern Ave., Lynn, after police had received numerous calls over the past few weeks about suspicious activity at the address.Police said that as recently as last week, police received complaints of people entering and exiting the basement of the home at all hours of the day and night. Some of the people would stay for a short period of time while others would stay there for several hours, police said.A plain-clothes officer arrived at the residence at 10:15 a.m. Friday in order to question the residents. A young boy answered the door at the front entrance, which led to the basement.Acala then walked upstairs and greeted the officer. Acala, who police say spoke only some English, agreed to let the officer look around the living area.The officer found several cut plastic baggies in a sink, police said.Backup officers arrived and the homeowner was called by phone. He consented to a police search, police said.During a pat frisk, Acala was allegedly found in possession of a rolled up dollar bill with residue of a white powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine and was arrested for possession of a class B drug.Police, with the assistance of a K-9 dog, continued searching the apartment and allegedly found 6.5 grams of suspected cocaine and 4.1 grams of suspected heroin in a plastic bag hidden in the ceiling. In a police report, officers said, “the ceiling tile near the sink fell to the floor” when officers found the suspected narcotics.After a more thorough search of the home, police reported finding another 92 grams of suspected cocaine, 23.5 grams of suspected heroin, an electronic scale, plastic sandwich bags, a vacuum food sealer and a prescription bottle of Acetaminophen.The homeowner, identified as Carlos Lugo, later told police he agreed to let Acala stay at the home about five months ago after meeting him in a Lynn restaurant. Acala was having marital problems.However, recently City Hall told Lugo that Acala was staying in an illegal apartment. Therefore, Lugo said he told Acala that he couldn’t live there anymore but was allowed to “crash” there if he needed, police said. Lugo added he didn’t charge Acala to stay there, police said.Prosecutors asked that Acala be held on $250,000 cash bail and Acala’s defense attorney, Patrick Callahan, asked he be held on $2,500. But Judge Stacey Fortes-White ordered Acala held on $150,000 cash.Acala is due back in court Feb. 5 for a probable cause hearing.