NEWBURYPORT — On Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at approximately 1:47 a.m., Officer Schyler Reilly of the Newburyport Police Department was on patrol when he began an investigation into suspicious activity at a gas station on Storey Avenue.
According to a press release from Newburyport Police Chief Matthew Simons, shortly after Officer Reilly began his investigation, he stopped a vehicle and observed suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view. The vehicle was occupied by four individuals: William A. King Jr., 45, of Brockton; Samuel Lash, 39, of Friendship, Maine; a 25-year-old woman from Warren, Maine; and a 24-year-old woman from Rockland, Maine.
During a search of the vehicle, police found several spent shell casings, along with the following items:
- 931.5 grams of cocaine
- 13.5 grams of crack cocaine
- 7.1 grams of marijuana
- 4 units of ecstasy
- One .357 caliber revolver
- A revolver cartridge containing 25 bullets
- Two revolver cartridges totaling 53 bullets
- Metallic knuckles
Police also located scales and cutting utensils consistent with a drug distribution operation, Chief Simons said.
Police determined that Lash did not possess a Massachusetts license to carry, and that King was wanted on outstanding warrants out of Brockton District Court.
Lash and King were placed under arrest without incident.
The two female passengers requested medical attention at the scene and were transported by Atlantic Ambulance to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
King is being held without bail, while Lash is being held on $50,000 bail. Both are scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Newburyport District Court.
