Drug bust at Athol residence exposes crack cocaine distribution operation, assault rifle and sawed-off shotgun seized

ATHOL — Athol Police Detective Corey Chauvette reported that a recent joint investigation by both the Athol Police Department and the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force (NDATF) concluded that Ronald Chambers and Susan Martin, who reside together at 1793 Main Street, have been running a crack cocaine distribution operation from their residence.  

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

Det. Chauvette said that, on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, he submitted search warrant applications to Orange District Court requesting authorization to search Chambers’ and Martin’s residence for evidence related to the distribution of crack cocaine. The court subsequently authorized the applications.

According to police, Ronald H. Chambers, 55, and Susan Martin, 55, are residents of 1793 Main Street, Athol, MA.

On Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at approximately 5:45 p.m., members of the NDATF and Athol Police Department executed the search warrant at 1793 Main Street.

“The search warrant execution team approached the rear entry door of the residence,” Det. Chauvette said. “At that time [Task Force Officer] TFO Timothy Boland knocked loudly on the door, announcing that we were the ‘police’ executing a ‘search warrant.’ Chambers opened the door, allowing police to make entry into the residence. Chambers, his son Ronald Chambers Jr. (DOB: [redacted] he’s 36), and Martin were found in the kitchen and were detained without incident. A 13-year-old male was located in the living room of the residence. I showed and explained that police had obtained a search warrant for the home and cellular phone of Chambers and Martin. I first read Martin her rights pursuant to Miranda from a printed card. When asked if she understood her rights, Martin replied ‘Yes.’ I then read Chambers his rights pursuant to Miranda from a printed card. When asked if he understood his rights, Chambers replied that he understood. He did not wish to speak with the police; however, at this point, he informed TFO Benjamin Beaver that he was going to go to jail because he had two firearms in the residence.”

According to Det. Chauvette, during a search of the residence, investigators located “several articles of evidence including, but not limited to,” the following:

1. A metallic Samsung Galaxy cellular phone with a damaged screen
2. Approximately three grams of suspected cocaine, with packaging
3. Digital scales
4. Packaging materials
5. A Savage Mack II 22 long rifle bolt action rifle inside of a black Allen [Company] soft case (not secured by any safe or locking mechanism, at ground-level in a bedroom)
6. A sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun (barrel length approximately 14 ¾ inches; not secured by any safe or locking mechanism, at ground-level in a bedroom)
7. Multiple rounds of various firearm and shotgun ammunition

Chambers was transported to the Athol Police Department where he was booked for the following offenses:

1. Possession with Intent to Distribute (PWID) a Class B Substance (Subsequent Offense) (Cocaine)
2. Firearm in the Commission of a Felony (PWID Cocaine)
3. Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun
4. Firearm Violation with Three or More Convictions for Violent Crimes (Rifle)
5. Firearm Violation with Three or More Convictions for Violent Crimes (Shotgun)
6. Firearm Violation with Three or More Convictions for Violent Crimes (Ammunition)
7. Improper Storage of a Firearm – Access to Minor (Rifle)
8. Improper Storage of a Firearm – Access to Minor (Shotgun)
9. Possession of a Firearm without an LTC/FID (Rifle)
10. Possession of a Firearm without an LTC/FID (Shotgun)
11. Possession of a Ammunition without an LTC/FID

Bail for Chambers was set at $25,000. (Information for potential charges against Martin were not included in the documents obtained by News Link Live from the Orange District Court).

“Queries revealed that no parties at the residence had a License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification Card (FID),” Det. Chauvette said. “Additionally, according to Chambers’ Massachusetts Board of Probation (BOP) record, he has the following convictions in his criminal history that enhance his new charges:

1. On Nov. 1, 2005, Chambers received a guilty finding in Orange District Court for Assault (Handgun)
2. On May 13, 2005, Chambers received a guilty finding in Orange District Court for Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
3. On May 13, 1995, Chambers received guilty findings in Orange District Court for a Violation of an Abuse Prevention Order and two counts of Assault and Battery
4. On Aug. 15, 1994, Chambers received a guilty finding in Orange District Court for two counts of Distributing/Dispensing a Class D Substance and Manufacturing a Class D Substance
5. On Aug. 10, 1994, Chambers received a guilty finding in Orange District Court for Violation of an Abuse Prevention Order

“The suspected narcotics seized during this investigation were analyzed using a TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer (‘TruNarc device’),” Det. Chauvette said. “A TruNarc device is capable of scanning directly through plastic (including evidence bags) or glass and can identify over 400 substances, including narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and analgesics. The device uses Raman spectroscopy, a vibrational spectroscopy technique where a single wavelength laser is focused on a sample. The laser excites the bonds of a molecule, which generates measurable scattered light to identify the material in question. When analyzing the substances seized from this search warrant, the suspected cocaine tested positive for the presence of cocaine. However, it is important to note that the results produced by the TruNarc device are considered ‘presumptive’ positive tests. These results, while indicative, are not as accurate as those obtained through a comprehensive examination conducted by a laboratory, such as the Massachusetts State Police Forensic Laboratory.”

Chambers was arraigned in Orange District Court on Nov. 4, 2024. During his arraignment, the Commonwealth filed an order for pretrial detention pending a dangerousness hearing, which was approved by Judge Laurie MacLeod.  A dangerousness hearing was held for Chambers on Nov. 11, 2024, after which he was deemed dangerous and will be held in jail on pretrial detention until March 7, 2025.

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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