Heroin Possession Charges Filed in North Adams Drug Sting

The Berkshire Eagle  reports two city residents face heroin-possession charges after police performed a "street-level" drug enforcement operation Sunday.

Steven Augello, 42, and Laura Kirby, 24, both of North Adams, were caught with more than 60 bags of heroin, according to the criminal complaint by North Adams Police Officer Stephanie Mirante.

Officers spotted Kirby about noon in the parking lot of Cumberland Farms on Union Street.

Given that Kirby had an active warrant for her arrest, officers tracked her and Augello as they drove out of the convenience store's parking lot westward on Route 2.

The vehicle Augello was driving pulled into the driveway of a Union Street home and was met by a brown Ford SUV.

Afterward, police pulled over the vehicle and immediately arrested Kirby. While searching her, they found 60 bags of heroin and $170 in cash.

Kirby allegedly admitted to officers that she had been at the Union Street residence to sell heroin to a woman who lived there.

Augello allegedly affirmed officers' accusations that he was known to drive drug dealers around North Adams and was doing so at the time of his arrest.

While searching the car, police found 10 additional heroin bags between a seat and the center console.

Kirby and Augello pleaded not guilty in Northern Berkshire District Court on Wednesday to single counts of Class A drug possession to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws. They were released on personal recognizance and are scheduled to return May 1 for pretrial hearings.