Athol woman arrested in drug raid following investigation into alleged cocaine sales

ATHOL — Following an investigation into the alleged cocaine sales of Erica Adams, Officer Travis Rushford of the Orange Police Department was granted search warrants by the Orange District Court for Adams’ residence in Athol and for one cellular phone believed to be used by Adams.  

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

According to police, Erica L. Adams, 38, is a resident of 411 Harvard Avenue, Athol, MA.

On Thursday, November 7, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., members of the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force (NDATF) as well as the Athol and Orange police departments executed the search warrants at 411 Harvard Avenue.

“I knocked on the side door of the residence and announced ‘Police search warrant’ three times in a loud and clear tone,” Officer Rushford said. “The door was locked and was able to be breached upon.”

Shortly after police broke through the locked door of the residence, Adams was located in a bedroom that was later determined to be hers, as well as the following subjects:

1. Amanda Comstock, 36 years old
2. Jason Maxim, 34 years old
3. Adam Fowler, 33 years old

“An elderly female later identified as Ruby Stowell (DOB: [redacted]; (she is 92 years old)) was located sitting in a wheelchair in a living room on the opposite side of the residence,” Officer Rushford said. “Members of the NDATF cared for the wellbeing of Stowell during the duration of the search warrant execution to ensure her safety. It was also explained to Stowell why the police were in her residence. (After the completion of the search warrant execution, Trooper Blakeley Pottinger filed with the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, regarding the outcome of the search warrant investigation. Stowell’s daughter, Julie Litchfield (DOB: [redacted]; (she is 63 years old)), later arrived at the residence to care for her mother after investigators left the property.”

Officer Rushford added, “All the subjects located in Adams’ bedroom were handcuffed. Maxim and Comstock were moved to another location within the residence.”

While he was still in Adams’ bedroom, Officer Rushford read Adams and Fowley their Miranda rights from a card he carries on his person while another responding officer read Maxim and Comstock their Miranda Warnings in another room.

“All stated they understood,” Officer Rushford said. “After Adams stated she understood her Miranda Warnings, she stated that she ‘Had a little bit of coke.’ I then explained the search warrant to Adams and Fowley, and advised Adams that she was the target of the investigation which she understood. I also explained to her that I had a search warrant for her cell phone with the number 978-4XX-XXXX, which she stated was hers. Next to Adams on the bed was a cell phone, which she indicated was hers. I later called the phone number listed on the search warrant, and the phone she indicated was hers began to ring. Fowley was then escorted to another portion of the residence with the others. Prior to being placed on any furniture in the room where Maxim, Comstock and Fowley were brought to, the furniture and areas where they eventually sat down were searched and no illegal narcotics were located.”

At this time, Officer Sydney Richardson of the Orange Police Department arrived on scene and conducted a search of Adams.

“No illegal narcotics were found on her person,” Officer Rushford said. “As Adams got off her bed to be escorted out of the room so investigators could begin their search, I observed a small bag containing a tan colored powder that based on my training and experience was consistent with that of fentanyl, sitting on the bed where Adams had been. Adams was then placed under arrest and transported to the Orange Police Department for booking.”

A search of Adams bedroom yielded the following:

1. Approximately 15.5 grams of suspected cocaine/crack cocaine
2. Approximately 1 gram of suspected fentanyl
3. A functioning digital scale covered in a white residue
4. Multiple types of packaging material
5. Adam’s cell phone

“Prior to completing a search of Adams’ bedroom and confirming Adams’ cellular phone, I took possession of the phone and observed it was open with what appeared to be a Facebook messenger conversation on the screen,” Officer Rushford said. “A Facebook user ‘Justin,’ with a photograph of a subject I know to be Justin Horne (DOB: [redacted]; (he is 33 years old)), had messaged what was likely Adams’ Facebook account. The conversation went as follows:

4:57 p.m. (minutes before the search warrant was executed)

ADAMS: Hey I don’t have a rode

ADAMS: Ride

ADAMS: *Smile emoji with sunglasses*

‘JUSTIN’: Damn

‘JUSTIN’: How much could you do as gram of down for and I just texted you so read that please

Based on my training and experience, the above conversation was consistent with ‘Justin’ looking to order one (1) gram of fentanyl from Adams. I know that drug dealers and customers will commonly use street lingo to refer to fentanyl as ‘down,’ instead of using the actual drug’s name. Other conversations observed in Adams’ phone within the allotted search warrant parameters showed multiple conversations like the one above, indicating that Adams was actively selling narcotics not only on the day of the search warrant execution, but throughout the entire investigation. Adams’ cell phone is currently awaiting a further forensic download by the State Police Detective Unit.”

Adams was charged with the following:

1. Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A Drug (Fentanyl)
2. Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Drug (Cocaine)

Adams was booked at the Orange Police Department and released on her own personal recognizance with the promise to appear in Orange District Court for her arraignment on November 12, 2024.

“After Maxim, Comstock, and Fowley were released and left the property, investigators located a small rubber container on the floor near the seat where Comstock was sitting,” Officer Rushford added. “Next to the rubber container were small, white, rock-like pieces that were consistent with that of crack cocaine. As noted previously, the furniture and area that all subjects were allowed to sit on was searched prior to them being allowed to sit down and no narcotics was located.”

Officer Rushford said that while Comstock was detained in handcuffs earlier, she was asked by the responding officer who read her Miranda Warning if she had anything on her person.

“Comstock, while handcuffed, was able to reach into her right and left pockets to remove a small amount of marijuana, a smoking pipe, and a lighter, claiming she had nothing else,” Officer Rushford said.
“Comstock was never thoroughly searched by a female officer, as Officer Richardson had already left with Adams. Based on this, investigators were confident that Comstock likely removed this container from her person, when given the opportunity either while handcuffed or after being removed from them, to distance herself from any illegal narcotics she had on her person, thinking a more thorough search would happen. After investigators left the residence, an attempt to locate Comstock and speak to her was unsuccessful. Based on this, I request that Amanda Comstock be charged with the following: Possession of Class B Drug (Cocaine).”

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from November, 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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