Ayer traffic stop leads to drug arrests after K9 search finds crack-cocaine

AYER — On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 10:25 a.m., Officer Michael Nicolo of the Ayer Police Department was clearing a call at 100 East Main Street when he observed he observed a black GMC Serria with Massachusetts plates backing out of the 96 East Main Street back lot, where a known drug dealer is.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed personnel narrative of Officer Nicolo and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“I observed an expired inspection sticker and heavy front-end damage: I ran the plate via my MDT [mobile data terminal], which returned the owner was Adam Pillsbury,” Officer Nicolo said. “The inspection sticker failed inspection on May 22, 2023.”

Officer Nicolo said he turned on the emergency lights on his cruiser and pulled the vehicle over in front of 7 Harvard Road.

“I noticed Officer [Andrew] Gambrell ran this vehicle at 10:15 a.m.,” Officer Nicolo said. “I knew Officer Gambrell was sitting at the intersection of Groton-Harvard Road and Central Street at that time. That intersection is 100 yards from 96 East Main Street.”

Officer Nicolo called Officer Gambrell to ask him which direction the vehicle went after he ran the plates of the vehicle.

“Officer Gambrell stated the vehicle came southbound on Groton-Harvard Road and turned left on Central Street, which means the vehicle did not go directly to 96 East Main Street, but chose to go around Officer Gambrell,” Officer Nicolo noted. Adding, “This also meant this vehicle stopped briefly at an apartment on the back side.”

Officer Nicolo exited his cruiser and returned to the vehicle and spoke with the registered owner of the vehicle, whom Officer Nicolo identified as Adam Pillsbury.

According to police, Adam W. Pillsbury, 39, is a resident of 46 Madison Street, Fitchburg, MA.

“I asked Adam for his license and registration, which he gave,” Officer Nicolo said.

Officer Nicolo informed Pillsbury that the reason for the stop was the absence of a valid inspection sticker. Pillsbury acknowledged the issue, explaining that it was costly to fix.’

“I asked where he was coming from. He stated his friend’s house,” Officer Nicolo said. “I asked who his friend was, and he replied ‘Scott something, I don’t know his last name.’ I asked how don’t you know your friend’s last name. Adam replied ‘he’s not a friend, he’s a co-worker who started this week.’ Adam claimed he came to Scott’s house to drop off a sub-woofer and a speaker, but no one was home, I asked him why he would drive from Fitchburg to Ayer without knowing Scott was home. Adam claimed he came from Groton, but did not have Scott’s number. I asked him how he knew where Scott lived. Adam stated he picked him up for work once.”

At this time, Officer Nicolo said Officer Jared Splaine arrived on scene to assist.

“l identified both passengers who didn’t have seatbelts on,” Officer Nicolo said. “Laura [last name redacted] was in the front passenger seat and Ronald Theriault in the rear seat behind the driver.”

According to police, Ronald Theriault, Jr., 40, is a resident of 46 Nashua Road, Apt. #4, Pepperell, MA.

Officer Nicolo returned to his cruiser and ran Pillsbury’s Board of Probation [BOP] record and found out that Pillsbury was charged with possession of a Class A substance on July 19, 2023.

“When I came back to the vehicle I asked Adam about the most recent possession charge, and he claimed someone must have used his name and social,” Officer Nicolo said. “I asked him if I searched his vehicle would I find any drugs in it. Adam stated ‘I don’t know, I have a lot of truckers in here.’ I informed him that his story does not add up and I believe he’s lying to me. I asked for consent search, which Adam declined.”

Officer Nicolo then requested a drug dog to do a perimeter sweep of Pillsbury’s vehicle. Shortly thereafter, Officer Dan Adams of the Pepperell Police Department arrived on scene with K9 Taro. Ayer Police Department’s Deputy Chief Jennifer Bigelow arrived on scene to assist as well.

“Officer Adams is very familiar with Adam and Ron,” Officer Nicolo said. Later adding, “All parties were asked to exit and searched. Officer Adams conducted a sweep with Taro. Taro gave a hit near the front passenger door. Officer Adams asked Adam where we would find the drugs. Adam stated in the middle console. A sweep of the vehicle was conducted. A silver container containing a white rock-like substance was found in the middle console. The substance weighed .37 grams. Adam was informed he was being placed under arrest.”

After placing him under arrest, Officer Nicolo handcuffed Pillsbury and placed him in the back of cruiser #32 and returned to Pillsbury’s vehicle which was still being inventoried.

“A search of the vehicle continued,” Officer Nicolo said. “A bag with white rock-like substance was located behind the driver’s seat pocket, where Ron was seated. The substance weighed 2.5 grams. Ron was informed he was being placed under arrest.”

After arresting Theriault, Officer Nicolo placed him in the back of cruiser #33.  

Both Theriault and Pillsbury were then transported to the Ayer Police Department for booking.

Pillsbury was charged with no inspection sticker and drug possession Class B (crack-cocaine), subsequent offense.

Theriault was charged with drug possession Class B (crack-cocaine).

Officer Nicolo said Deputy Chief Bigelow gave Laura a courtesy ride to McDonalds.

Both Pillsbury and Theriault were arraigned in Ayer District Court on July 23, 2024.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.

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