Three arrested during alleged drug deal in Lynn

LYNN – A judge ordered $25,000 cash bail for a city man and $2,500 cash bail for a city woman whom police said were seen making a drug deal and then were pulled over with an illegal gun and more than 18 grams of heroin in their car.”In 2011 [the defendant] was charged with possession of Class D drugs with intent to distribute,” Assistant District Attorney Doug Sheehan told the court Wednesday. “He apparently decided to graduate to an incredible amount of heroin trafficking.”John O’Neil, 21, of 24 Saratoga Street, was arrested and charged with distribution of Class A drugs; carrying a loaded firearm without a license; use of a firearm in a felony; possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number in a felony; and trafficking in morphine / heroin; at 4:14 p.m. Tuesday.Rachel Mazola, 19, of 61 Alden St., was arrested and charged with distribution of Class A drugs; trafficking in heroin / morphine; and being present where heroin is knowingly kept; at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday.Ryan Burke, 24, of 46 Jenness St., was arrested and charged with possession of Class A heroin; at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday.The three were arraigned in Lynn District Court Wednesday where not-guilty pleas were entered on each defendant’s behalf.Officers were meeting at the CVS on Eastern Avenue Tuesday afternoon when one of them noticed a green Subaru with a single man sitting inside and looking around the lot, according to a report by Lynn Police Officer Thomas Mulvey. The officer watched as a four-door Toyota pulled into the lot and a man got out of the rear seat, approached the Subaru and conducted what the officers believed was a drug deal, according to police. One officer followed the Subaru and arrested Burke, who admitted to buying a twist of heroin for $40, according to the report. Police found the Toyota and its occupants at a gas station.Police reported O’Neil appeared very nervous as officers asked the driver and passengers of the car for identification. Police asked O’Neil if he had any weapons on him and reported he immediately reached to his waistband.Officers recovered a 9-millimeter Smith and Wesson handgun with 8 rounds of ammunition, and O’Neil reported he had no license to carry, Sheehan told the court. Mazola gave officers permission to search the car. Officers recovered three cellphones and a large bag containing 18+ grams of suspected heroin, Sheehan said.Police said O’Neil requested to use one of the phones to make a call during booking; which officers allowed.”He thanked them by taking the cellphone and then broke it, and then asked to use another of the cellphones in incredible audacity,” Sheehan said.Sheehan requested O’Neil be held on $100,000 cash bail for the new charges and that the judge revoke bail on the open possession with intent to distribute Class D case. The probation department also requested O’Neil be held for a potential probation violation.Sheehan requested $10,000 cash bail for Mazola, noting she was driving the vehicle with the suspected heroin; and $500 cash bail for Burke.Attorney Devin McBride requested $10,000 cash bail for O’Neil. McBride said his client was not in direct control of the suspected heroin. Moreover, McBride said police initially reported O’Neil was wearing shorts, and then reported he was wearing jeans.Attorney Barbara Keon said Mazola was simply driving a friend to school and had no idea there were drugs in the car – which is why she gave police permission to search the vehicle.Attorney Chris Mangos said the search of Burke would “clearly be subject to a motion to suppress.”Judge Ellen Flatley ordered $25,000 cash bail for O’Neil, $2,500 cash bail for Mazola, and a $500 personal surety bond for Burke. She also revoked O’Neil’s bail and ordered him detained for a potential probation violation. She ordered all defendants to return to court Sept. 12.