Three arrested, four charged in drug bust at Orange home linked to past deaths and ongoing narcotics activity

ORANGE — On Saturday, December 13, 2024, following an investigation into the suspected sales of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl by Michael Pickup, Detective Travis Rushford of the Orange Police Department obtained a search warrant from the Orange District Court for Pickup’s residence on Perry Road.

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

According to police, Michael J. Pickup, 41, is a resident of 60 Perry Road, Orange, MA.

“The search warrant for the residence granted daytime execution as well as authorization to search all persons present within the residence,” Det. Rushford said.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at approximately 7:40 p.m., members of the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force (NDATF) and the Orange Police Department executed the search warrant at 60 Perry Road.

“As investigators approached the door of the residence, a male subject was observed walking up the basement stairs toward the door,” Det. Rushford said. “I announced our presence/purpose and told him to open the door, which he did open. Investigators then entered the residence, continuing to announce that it was the police executing a search warrant. Upon entry, Michael Pickup was located coming out of a bedroom in the basement later determined to be his.”

According to Orange police, the following individuals were also located in the residence:

1. Laurie Pickup (35 years old) – Found in the basement
2. Amanda Flynn (36 years old) – Found in the basement
3. Elanore Donahue (62 years old) – Found in the upstairs right bedroom
4. Igor Rios (24 years old) – Found in the upstairs right bedroom
5. Donna Bates (63 years old) – Found in the upstairs left bedroom
6. Derrill Bunker (40 years old) – Located upstairs; he opened the door for the police
7. Erik Cameron (31 years old) – Found in the basement

“All subjects were detained in handcuffs, and the search warrant was explained to all parties,” Det. Rushford said. “They were also all read their Miranda warnings. A copy of the search warrant was later left attached to the refrigerator in the kitchen. All subjects and the residence were then searched.”

According to Det. Rushford, a search of Pickup’s bedroom yielded a glass pipe containing a white substance consistent with that of crack cocaine and a testable amount of a white powder consistent with cocaine. Additionally, a digital scale covered in residue consistent with cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl was also found.

In Laurie Pickup’s bedroom, police located multiple glass pipes containing a white substance consistent with crack cocaine.

“A search of Bates’ person and bedroom each yielded a glass pipe containing a white substance consistent with crack cocaine. A search of the bathroom yielded a locking bag (unlocked) on the bathroom sink that contained multiple glassine [i.e., plastic] bags containing approximately 23.39g of suspected crack cocaine and one dosage unit of suspected heroin/fentanyl. Within this bag was a wallet containing Rios’ Massachusetts identification card, his social security card, banking cards, and approximately $35.60,” Det. Rushford said. “In front of the locking bag on the bathroom sink was $100.00. A search of his [Rios’] person yielded two ‘dealer blowouts’ and approximately $380.00. A ‘dealer blowout’ is a plastic baggie that will have one or both corners ripped off, which is what the dealer would use to package various amounts of narcotics. In this case, one baggie had both corners ripped off, and the second had one corner ripped off.”

Det. Rushford stated that police found Cameron asleep behind a washer and dryer, with a glass pipe next to him containing a white substance consistent with crack cocaine.

A search of Bunker revealed no illegal substances.

“Given the totality of the circumstances, I submit that probable cause exists to believe that Donahue and Rios were engaged in a joint venture/conspiracy for Donahue to provide a location for Rios to distribute narcotics from, specifically the trafficking of crack cocaine,” Det. Rushford said.

According to Det. Rushford, since 2019, there have been numerous citizen complaints about suspected narcotics activity at Pickup’s residence. He added that, in 2021, the State Police Detective Unit investigated two unattended deaths at Pickup’s residence, which were ultimately determined to be caused by acute intoxication from fentanyl and cocaine.

“During the execution of the search warrant, Donahue was verbally abusive to investigators and called us many derogatory names,” Det. Rushford said. “While searching her bedroom (and other areas of the residence), multiple bed bugs were observed, which caused investigators to be extra cautious during their searches. As investigators were leaving the residence, Donahue continued to be irate, at one point saying that she hoped we brought home bed bugs. As a result of this discovery, as well as other observed living conditions, the Orange Board of Health will be contacted.”

The following individuals were arrested and transported to the Orange Police Department following the execution of the search warrant:

1. Michael Pickup
   • Charged with:
     • Possession of Class B Substance (Subsequent Offense)
2. Igor Rios, 24, of 76 Malden Street, Springfield, MA
   • Charged with:
     • Cocaine, Trafficking in 18 Grams or More, Less than 36 Grams
     • Possession of a Class A Drug
     • Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
3. Erik Cameron (A note in the court documents obtained by News Link Live says that Cameron’s docket 2442CR733 is not public information because he has not been arraigned yet)
   • Charged with:
     • Possession of a Class B Substance

“Bail was set at $500.00 for both Rios and Michael Pickup,” Det. Rushford said.  “They were unable to come up with the money and were transported to the Franklin County House of Corrections. Cameron was released on personal recognizance. It should be noted that Cameron appeared to be under the influence of an unknown narcotic and was released to a sober party who was advised of his current condition.”

According to Det. Rushford, the following individuals were summonsed to court at a later date:

1. Elanore Donahue
   • Charged with:
     • Cocaine, Trafficking in 18 Grams or More, Less than 36 Grams
     • Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A Drug
     • Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
2. Amanda Flynn
   • Charged with:
     • Possession of a Class B Drug
3. Donna Bates
   • Charged with:
     • Possession of a Class B Drug
4. Laurie Pickup
   • Charged with:
     • Possession of a Class B Drug

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from December 2024, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.

To learn more about News Link Live’s unique business model, please read the following:

An online business model that could replace local newspapers

The Medium is the Message by Marshall McCLuhan

The Ego and the ID by Sigmund Freud