Crime & Safety

Police Bust Craigslist Dealer in Charlestown

Malden man used online site to arrange drug sales, according to police.

Officers arrested a Malden man recently after using craigslist to arrange to buy marijuana from him behind the on Austin Street.

According to a police report, officers first became aware of Andrew Maxwell of 22 Clayton Street in Malden through a craigslist post advertising the sale of “purple,” a particular kind of marijuana.

An officer exchanged several emails with Maxwell, a police report said, before agreeing to buy a “slice” (a street term meaning one-eighth of an ounce) behind the 99s on March 26.

Find out what's happening in Charlestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The officer then exchanged a number of text messages with Maxwell before meeting Maxwell in the parking lot. Once in the vehicle, the officer handed over $60 of cash a received a bag of what he believed to be marijuana.

The officer then left the vehicle and told his colleagues he had made the buy. Maxwell drove out of the parking lot before an officer stopped him on Rutherford Avenue. After being arrested, Maxwell told officers “I have weed in the car.”

Find out what's happening in Charlestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Officers recovered a large plastic bag of marijuana in addition to a digital scale from the vehicle’s center console. Officers also recovered a small zipper bag containing marijuana from Maxwell’s jeans pocket.

As a result of the incident, Maxwell was charged with possession of a class D substance with the intent to distribute it.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Charlestown