Webster man arrested after suspected mailbox drug pickup leads to discovery of marijuana, edibles, vape cartridges, and cash

WEBSTER — On Friday, February 28, 2025, Officer Nicholas Trinque of the Webster Police Department was working his scheduled patrol shift with Officer Sean Ebbeling who was working with him as his field training officer.

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

“Detective Sergeant Christopher Trainor, Detective Philip Hurton, Officer James Young Jr., Officer Patrick Trainor, Officer Ebbeling and myself were working together on a proactive assignment aimed at combatting street level drug and associated crimes,” Officer Trinque explained. Adding, “Detective Sergeant Trainor had observed a vehicle bearing Connecticut Reg. [number redacted] stop in front of 12 Prospect Street. The passenger of the vehicle – later identified as Dustin Briand – exited the vehicle looking at his phone. Dustin approached the mailbox at 12 Prospect Street, opened it, and retrieved something from inside. He then got back into the vehicle and drove away. Detective Sergeant Trainor then informed officers of what he had witnessed.”

Based on his training and experience, Detective Sergeant Trainor believed he had just witnessed a possible drug transaction, Officer Trinque said.

“Often times, people involved in the distribution of illicit substances will leave their product for sale in areas for customers to retrieve, in an attempt to thwart law enforcement’s detection of a ‘hand-to-hand’ type of transaction,” Officer Trinque explained. “Additionally, Dustin’s quick visit to the residence and its mailbox, at a location that he is not known to reside, appeared to serve no legitimate purpose. Furthermore, investigating officers know that mail theft is a current criminal trend in Massachusetts, where involved parties will steal checks out of mailboxes to be used in future fraud incidents.”

Officer Trainor stopped the vehicle for an investigation, Officer Trinque said. A short time later, Detective Hurton and Officer Young Jr. arrived as backup.

“Officer Trainor identified the operator as Connie [last name redacted] by her CT driver’s license,” Officer Trinque said. “During the stop, Officer Trainor had Dustin exit the vehicle, Dustin was refusing to exit at first but ultimately complied. When he exited the vehicle, Officer Young Jr. had grabbed Dustin’s left wrist area, and immediately felt an object in his sleeve in that area. Officer Young Jr. could feel that it had a plastic bag type of texture containing a ‘crunchy’ substance inside. From his training and experience, Officer Young Jr. believed whatever was contained in Dustin’s sleeve to likely be an illicit substance, and likely what Dustin retrieved from the mailbox.”

According to Officer Trinque, Officer Young Jr. then looked in the sleeve of Dustin’s jacket and could see a plastic packaging material.

“He grabbed the plastic and began to remove it,” Officer Trinque said. “At the same time, Detective Hurton had asked Dustin where the object he took from the mailbox was. Dustin stated right here referring to his sleeve.”

Officer James Young Jr. removed what appeared to be a vape cartridge and a green, leaf-like substance believed to be marijuana in a plastic bag, Officer Trinque said.

“While questioning Dustin, he informed Officer Trainor he had retrieved these items from the mailbox,” Officer Trinque said. “He also stated he paid for it and identified the person he buys from as Rob and/or ‘Robbie Trees.’ From my training and experience, I know ‘trees’ to be referred to as marijuana.”

Dustin informed Detective Hurton that he buys from Robert because he would have to pay four times more at a dispensary, Officer Trinque said.

“While this stop was happening, I drove by 12 Prospect Street and observed a grey Dodge pickup truck bearing MA Reg. [# redacted] parked in front with a male sitting in the driver’s seat,” Officer Trinque said. “I conducted an inquiry of the registration and the inquiry indicated the owner of the vehicle is Robert Gilchrest, who is known to the other officers.”

According to police, Robert D. Gilchrest, 39, is a resident of Oakmont Street in Webster, MA.

“Detective Sergeant Trainor immediately left the stop and went to Prospect Street to see if the vehicle was still there,” Officer Trinque said. “While watching the vehicle, Detective Sergeant Trainor observed a male party exit the residence at 12 Prospect Street with a black backpack. It should be known Prospect Street is a one-way street. The male party then entered the driver’s side of the vehicle and drove the wrong way down Prospect Street. Detective Sergeant Trainor informed officers of what he had witnessed. Officer Trainor then located the vehicle traveling East on East Main Street and initiated a motor vehicle stop. Detective Sergeant Trainor, Detective Hurton, Officer Young Jr., Officer Ebbeling, and myself arrived as backup a short time later.”

Officer Trainor identified the operator of the vehicle as Robert Gilchrest, whom he knew from previous encounters, Officer Trinque said. Officer Trainor had Gilchrest exit the vehicle, and after a brief roadside investigation, Gilchrest was placed under arrest.

“I placed Robert in handcuffs behind his back (DL) and seated him in the back of my cruiser to be transported to the station for booking. Once in booking Robert was advised of all applicable rights and booked in accordance with department policy,” Officer Trinque said. “While in booking, Robert informed Officer Trainor he gifted the marijuana to Dustin but he does sell to his close friends.”

Detective Sergeant Trainor, Detective Hurton, and Officer Trainor conducted a search of the vehicle, Officer Trinque said.

During the search, they located the following items, according to Officer Trinque:

• A glassine Ziplock-style bag containing a small amount of a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana
• A plastic tube holding a partially smoked “cigarette-like” item consistent with a marijuana cigarette
• A marijuana cigarette
• Two velvet boxes containing:
  • 2,000mg vape cartridges
  • Six “Candybis Nerd Rope” edibles labeled with 5,000mg dosages and a marijuana leaf
  • $790 in cash

“The cash was collocated with the illicit substances and was seized for forfeiture as the suspected proceeds of Robert’s illicit drug sales,” Officer Trinque said. “All of these items were inside a black backpack located on the passenger seat of the vehicle. Also, inside the backpack was Robert’s wallet with his Massachusetts driver’s license.”

Gilchrest was charged with the following:

1. Possess to Distribute Class C Drug (to wit: THC vape cartridge)
2. Distribute Class C Drug (to wit: THC vape cartridge)
3. Distribute Class D Drug (to wit: marijuana)
4. Possess to Distribute Class D Drug (to wit: marijuana)

Gilchrest’s bail was set at $500 cash.

Gilchrest was arraigned in Dudley District Court on March 3, 2025.

Gilchrest’s next court date was a pretrial hearing scheduled for April 18, 2025.

Although Dustin Briand admitted to retrieving marijuana and a vape cartridge from the mailbox and identified his supplier to police, no arrest of Briand was reported in the incident documents obtained by News Link Live. Based on the available information, police appear to have prioritized pursuing the suspected supplier, Robert Gilchrest.

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