HAVERHILL — On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Detective Dana Burrill of the Haverhill Police Department was assigned to the department’s narcotics unit with his partner Detective Timothy Campbell, when he saw Jacquelyn Smedile walk out of the CVS on Lowell Avenue. At the time, the detectives were in unmarked cruisers wearing plain clothes.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Dana Burrill for the incident and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“I know Smedile to be a narcotics user through prior investigations,” Detective Burrill said. “I observed her get into a red Jeep Cherokee bearing MA reg# [redacted]. This vehicle is registered to Charles Craig who is also known to abuse narcotics. I notified Detective Campbell who was also in the area.”
Police later learned the Jeep’s registered owner, Charles Craig, 61, of Haverhill, was in the vehicle with Smedile.
The detectives followed the Jeep to Target at 35 Computer Drive.
“The vehicle parked in a secluded ‘employee parking’ area of the parking lot,” Detective Burrill said. “Detective Campbell was able to park a few spots over from the Jeeр. Не could see very clearly inside the vehicle and watched Smedile take out a syringe that appeared to be loaded as the plunger was open all the way. At this time, we pulled up next to the Jeep and approached with our badge and firearms clearly displayed.”
Detective Burrill said he flashed his light into the vehicle and observed Smedile put the needle down in her lap.
According to police, Jacquelyn M. Smedile, 28, is a resident of Haverhill, MA.
“Detective Campbell opened Smedile’s door and asked her to step out of the vehicle,” Detective Burrill said. “I ordered Craig out of the vehicle. Detective Campbell advised Smedile of her rights and she stated that she understood.”
Detective Campbell located two syringes loaded with a rust colored liquid believed to be fentanyl.
“Smedile told Detective Campbell she had a small bag in her sock,” Detective Burrill said. “Detective Campbell removed a plastic bag containing a tan powder substance believed to be fentanyl. Craig had a crack pipe on his seat that I observed as he stepped out of the vehicle. There was another crack pipe located on the passenger side of the vehicle. No other contraband was located. The two syringes were disposed of. Craig was advised and sent from
the area.”
Officer Ryan McCartney arrived on scene and transported Smedile to the Haverhill Police Department for booking.
Detective Burrell said Smedile had a prior guilty disposition on a charge of possession of a Class B drug from January 2025 out of Haverhill District Court.
Jacquelyn Smedile, 28, of Haverhill, was charged with the following:
- Possess Class A Drug (Subsequent Offense)
Smedile was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on Nov. 14, 2025, where bail was set at $2,500. Following her arraignment, Smedile was released on bail under the condition that she remain drug free, submit to random screenings, and complete a substance abuse evaluation with follow-up. Bail was later reduced to $1,500 on Nov. 26, 2025.
At a pretrial hearing on Dec. 11, 2025, the court accepted Smedile’s guilty plea for the charge of possession of a Class A substance and imposed a one-year suspended House of Correction sentence with the same conditions as those set during her arraignment.
On Dec. 29, 2025, the court issued a non-bailable probation warrant for her arrest.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in November, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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