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Guns drawn in drug bust at local motel

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff Writer
Published: September 22, 2008

PEABODY — Police arrested four men at the Carriage House Motel on Friday following a drug investigation during which police say a suspect leveled a handgun at the face of an undercover detective.

Detective Sgt. Scott Richards arrived undercover at the Route 1 motel at 7:45 p.m., to sell a large quantity of oxycodone tablets.

"During the course of the transaction, the suspect drew a semi-automatic handgun, pointed the weapon in the face of Detective Sgt. Scott Richards and demanded the narcotics, which were the subject of the transaction," police Lt. Dennis Bonaiuto said.

Richards was able to distract the suspect, identified as Earl Hart, 47, who has an address at the motel, and get out of the area. This was the second time in five days that a Peabody police officer has been confronted by a suspect armed with handgun.

Last Monday, Patrolman Richard Cochran shot 55-year-old Philip Noto of Peabody after responding to a report of a restraining order violation at a Washington Street home. Noto died Thursday night at Salem Hospital. Noto had brandished a starter pistol which resembled a handgun.

Police said Hart and the men did not know Richards was a police officer. But moments after Richards left the scene, members of the North Shore Drug Task Force zeroed in on the four men at the motel, including Hart, who was arrested at gunpoint.

The police officers from local police departments — Peabody K-9 officer Eric Zawacki, and detectives Eric Connolly of Salem and Thomas Nolan of Beverly — were conducting surveillance during the drug transaction.

During the investigation, police recovered Hart's gun and 125 oxycodone tablets worth $10,000. Hart also had several thousand dollars in cash in his possession.

Police then searched a vehicle belonging to another man, Ronald Cairnie of Gorham, Maine, after obtaining a search warrant and found more drugs.

Bonaiuto said an additional 200 oxycodone tablets, worth $16,000, was found inside the car.

The four men will be arraigned this morning at Peabody District Court on numerous charges.

Hart is charged with illegal possession of a firearm; illegal possession of a loaded firearm; being a felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony; armed robbery; and attempting to commit a crime (trafficking oxycodone more than 28 grams). Hart is being held without bail.

Cairnie, 19, is charged with armed robbery; trafficking oxycodone; attempting to commit a crime (trafficking); and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

James Lee, 33, of 40 Federal St., Beverly, and Hector O'Brien, 39, of Roxbury, both face charges of armed robbery; attempting to commit a crime (trafficking); and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Cairnie, Lee and O'Brien are each being held on $5,000 bail.

Assisting in the investigation were Peabody detectives Eric Ricci, Stephanie Lane and Patrolman Mark Saia as well as Danvers Detective Stephen Baldassare and Salem Detective Jack Doyle. Special Agent Eric Kotchian of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also assisting in regard to the gun used.