Two arrested in Athol apartment raid after task force uncovers crack, heroin, pills, and cash

ATHOL — According to Trooper Blakeley Pottinger of the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force, a recent joint investigation by the task force and the Athol Police Department established probable cause to believe that William Chase, a resident of a Main Street apartment, had been trafficking and distributing crack cocaine from his residence.

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

“On Thursday, July 3, 2025, I, Trooper Blakeley Pottinger, presented search warrant applications to the Orange District Court requesting authorization to search Chase’s residence located at 359 Main Street, Apartment #10, in Athol, Massachusetts, and cellular phone with the assigned number 978-XXX-XXXX, for evidence related to the trafficking and distribution of crack cocaine,” Trooper Pottinger said. “The applications were reviewed and authorized by the court.”

According to police, William N. Chase Jr., 64, resides at 359 Main Street, Apt. 10, in Athol, MA.

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, members of the NDATF and Athol Police Department executed the search warrant at Chase’s apartment.

“The search warrant execution team approached the entry door of the residence,” Trooper Pottinger recounted. “At that time, I knocked loudly on the door, announcing that we were the ‘police’ executing a ‘search warrant’ on three occasions. After receiving no response, TFO [Task Force Officer] Vincenzo Tirone utilized a battering ram to open the door. The search warrant execution team then made entry into the residence.”

Trooper Pottinger said a 24-year-old woman identified as Brittany Martin was found in the living room and detained without incident. Jennifer McNabb, 48, was also located in the living room and detained without incident. Chase was then located in the bedroom and detained without incident.

“I showed and explained the search warrant to Chase, Martin, and McNabb, and allowed each the opportunity to read a copy. I separately read Chase, Martin, and McNabb their rights pursuant to Miranda from a printed card,” Trooper Pottinger said. “When asked if they understood their rights, Chase, Martin, and McNabb replied, ‘Yes.’ When asked if, having his rights in mind, he would waive his right to remain silent and agree to speak with police, Chase explained that he’s not the big guy. While speaking with Chase, he explained that everything he had was in the safe.”

During a search of the residence, police located the following:

1. Approximately 6.09 grams of suspected crack cocaine was found inside a safe located on top of a dresser in the bedroom.
2. Approximately 1.1 grams of suspected crack cocaine was found in the bedroom, inside the middle drawer of a dresser.
3. Approximately seven bags/dosage units of suspected heroin/fentanyl was found in the bedroom, inside a safe on top of a dresser.
4. Approximately two bags/dosage units of suspected heroin/fentanyl was found inside a bag in the living room of the residence.
5. A functioning digital scale with white powder residue on its surface was found in the bedroom, inside the top drawer of a dresser within the residence.
6. Approximately $561 in U.S. currency was found in the bedroom, inside a safe on top of a dresser within the residence.
7. Chase’s cell phone was found inside the bedroom of his apartment.
8. Multiple pills were found inside a pink purse in the living room of the residence, belonging to Brittany Martin. These included approximately four orange pills labeled “SG 181” wrapped in cellophane, approximately three white pills labeled “I 22,” and approximately 21.5 white pills labeled “U 136.”
9. Approximately 10 bags/dosage units of suspected heroin/fentanyl were found on Brittany Martin’s person, inside her right front pants pocket.

Chase and Martin were both arrested and transported to the Athol Police Department for booking.

William Chase was charged with the following:

1. Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance (Crack Cocaine)
2. Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin/Fentanyl)

Brittany Martin was charged with:

1. Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin/Fentanyl)
2. Possession of a Class E Substance (Clonidine Hydrochloride)
3. Possession of a Class E Substance (Gabapentin)

Chase’s bail was set at $7,500, while Martin’s was set at $5,000. Both were later transported from the Athol Police Department to Orange District Court for arraignment, Trooper Pottinger said.

Chase was arraigned in Orange District Court on July 8, 2025. Following his arraignment, he was released on personal recognizance. During his arraignment, the Commonwealth filed a notice of intent to seek forfeiture in Chase’s case, which was filed.

Chase’s next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for Aug. 11, 2025.

(Please note: Information regarding Martin’s arraignment and any subsequent court dates was not included in the documents News Link Live obtained through a public records request.)

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

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