Ware man arrested following apartment raid; cocaine, cash, and drug paraphernalia seized

WARE — During a recent investigation by the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force and the Ware Police Department, probable cause was developed to believe that Henry Baldwin III was trafficking and distributing cocaine and using his apartment at 55 North Street in Ware to support the operation.

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

On Friday, May 9, 2025, Ware Police Task Force Officer Matthew Menard submitted search warrant applications to Eastern Hampshire District Court, seeking authorization to search 39-year-old Henry Baldwin III’s residence at 55 North Street, Apartment C, in Ware for evidence related to cocaine trafficking and distribution. The court reviewed and approved the applications.

On May 16, 2025, members of the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force and the Ware Police Department executed the search warrant at 55 North Street, Apartment C, in Ware, Massachusetts.

“The search warrant execution team approached the entry door of the residence. At that time, TFO [Task Force Officer] Luis Rivera knocked loudly on the door, announcing that we were the ‘police’ executing a ‘search warrant’ on three occasions,” Officer Menard said. “After receiving no response, TFO Luis Rivera opened the door which was unlocked. The search warrant execution team then made entry into the residence.”

Police located Baldwin in the backyard and he was detained without incident.

Michael Staples, 37, was also found in the backyard and detained without incident.

Officer Menard stated that he showed and explained the search warrant to Baldwin and gave him the opportunity to read a copy. Trooper Blakeley Pottinger then read Baldwin his Miranda rights from a printed card he carries on his person.

“When asked if he understood his rights, Baldwin III replied, ‘Yes,’” Officer Menard said. “When asked if, having his rights in mind, he would waive his right to remain silent and agree to speak with police, Baldwin III replied with an affirmative. While speaking with Baldwin III, he stated that he had some cocaine in the residence for personal use. He was escorted by Trooper Pottinger and I inside, where he pointed to a knotted baggie in the living room with an off-white, rocklike substance.”

During the search of the residence, investigators found multiple items of evidence, including but not limited to the following:

1. Approximately 4.6 grams of suspected cocaine, located on the living room television stand
2. A cylindrical glass pipe containing a white powdery substance, located on Michael Staple’s person
3. A functioning digital scale with white powder residue on its surface, located in the kitchen on top of the refrigerator
4. Approximately $267 U.S. currency, located on Henry Baldwin III’s person
5. A cell phone bearing cellular number 413-XXX-XXXX

Baldwin was transported to the Ware Police Department where he was booked for the following offenses:

• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance (Cocaine)

“Baldwin III was later transported to the Hampshire County Jail, where he was held in lieu of bail,” Officer Menard said. Adding, “The suspected narcotics seized during this investigation were analyzed using a TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer (‘TruNarc device’). 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.”

Baldwin was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court on May 16, 2025, and released on $500 cash bail. During a pretrial conference on June 16, 2025, he pleaded guilty to Possession of a Class B Substance, after the original charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute was amended. Baldwin was placed on one year of probation, through June 15, 2026, with conditions including submitting to drug screens and abstaining from illegal drug use.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in May, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.

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