Heroin Bust Near Busy Playground, Says Police Report

Plain-clothed police officers made a drug arrest in the middle of Foss Park Saturday afternoon as nearly 150 children played in the playground nearby, according to allegations in a police report.

Police arrested Joseph Flynn, 21, and Ella Mataev, 24, both of whom had been previously arrested on drug charges in Somerville.

According to the police report, the plain-clothed officers saw Flynn, who was wanted on warrants, in Foss Park at about 12:25 p.m.

The report says that when officers approached, Flynn reached into his pocket, took out a pack of Newport cigarettes, and threw the pack behind him.

Officers found what they believed was eight baggies of heroin and a baggie of marijuana in the pack, according to the report. The report also says Flynn had a knife in his pocket.

Mataev let officers search her purse, where they found a white pill the woman said was Suboxone, according to the report. Mataev told police she had a prescription for the pill, but it wasn't on her, and police placed her under arrest, the report says.

Flynn was charged with drug possession, possession of a dangerous weapon and drug violation near a park. He was also arrested on warrants for speeding and driving with a suspended license. Mataev was charged with drug possession and being present where heroin was kept.

Flynn has a history of drug arrests, having been arrested on two other occasions this year. As part of an earlier drug investigation, Flynn was arrested on Jan. 30 and accused of possessing marijuana, ammunition and holsters, according to a previous police report.

Mataev was also arrested in that incident.

On May 1, Flynn was arrested again when police raided 164 Broadway. At that time he was found with 10 baggies of heroin, another police report said.