Alleged heroin dealer held on $50G cash bail

LYNN – A Lynn District Court Judge ordered a Salem man held on $50,000 cash bail Tuesday after police charged him with trafficking more than 100 grams of heroin in Lynn, according to court records.The Lynn Drug Task Force arrested William Jonathan Webber, 28, of 233 Lafayette St., in Salem, while conducting surveillance in the areas of Flint Street and Childs Street in Lynn around 3 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report. Numerous public complaints about drug activity in that area led the investigation, the report said.Officers observed two men in a black Jeep Cherokee engaging in “brief, meaningless rides,” which the report said was activity consistent with “street level narcotics transactions.”When officers stopped the Jeep and began walking towards the vehicle, an unidentified man exited and took off running toward Walnut Street, while the driver, later identified as Daniel Liacos, 34, of Gloucester, accelerated the vehicle toward one of the officers, according to the report.The officer, fearing for his safety, drew his weapon and ordered Liacos to stop, according to the report. Once the Jeep came to a stop, officers observed a man in the front seat, later identified as Webber. During a routine pat-down, officers found Webber in possession of “10 tightly compressed cylindrical packages of a brown rock powder believed to be heroin,” according to the report.The packaging is commonly referred to as “fingers,” the report said, because the drugs are often wrapped in the fingers of a Latex glove. Police also found a baton-like weapon and two twists of heroin inside a pack of cigarettes in Webber?s front pocket, according to the report. Webber refused to identify the second passenger who had fled the scene.Liacos told police he has a heroin addiction and that Webber is his dealer, from whom he purchases drugs at least once a week, according to the report. He said he intended to purchase heroin from Webber Monday, but Webber said he needed a ride from Salem to Lynn to “re-up.” Liacos also told police the second passenger gave Webber the heroin police found in his possession in exchange for cash, but said he could not identify him, according to the report.Police charged Webber with trafficking more than 100 grams of a Class A drug, drug violation near a school and carrying a dangerous weapon. Police did not find any heroin in Liacos? possession, but charged him with being present where heroin is kept, and issued him a reckless driving citation, according to the report.Webber is being held at Middleton Jail in lieu of bail, according to court records, and will return to court on June 8 for a probable cause hearing.Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].