Worcester, MA (January 12, 2012) - On January 11, 2012, members of the Worcester Police Gang Unit were conducting drug surveillance in the area of 702 Southbridge Street, the parking lot where Wendy’s restaurant is located. Recently, police have received complaints about suspicious activities being conducted in and around the parking lot area.

At approximately 9:10 PM officers observed a black Pontiac parked in the parking lot with a male sitting in the vehicle. After a few minutes of observing this male in the vehicle a black Nissan Altima, being operated by a female, entered the parking lot and parked next to the Pontiac. Both vehicles were pointed in the same direction which was actually directly in front of the undercover gang unit officer. The male in the Pontiac, later identified as Mr. Richard Kessler, 53 years old of 131 Yew Street, East Douglas, MA, was seen exiting his vehicle and enter the Nissan front passenger door. After a brief moment, and movement within the vehicle, Mr. Kessler exited the Nissan and got back into his vehicle, he then drove off onto McKeon Road. At this time, the officer believed that he had just observed a street level drug transaction and radioed this information to nearby officers.

Gang Unit officers were stationed nearby and were able to follow the vehicle driven by Mr. Kessler. He was stopped and subsequently searched which resulted in the discovery of what appeared to be a small amount of crack cocaine. Mr. Kessler was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Class B Substance and Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Laws. At this time other gang unit officers observed the black Nissan enter the drive thru for Wendy’s. Once the operator of the vehicle made her purchase she drove onto Cambridge Street and was signaled to stop. The vehicle did not stop immediately but did eventually stop. As the officers approached the vehicle they could see the female driver frantically move around in the driver’s seat. The woman, identified as Ms. Shani Byfield, 26 years old of 36 Maple Tree Lane, Worcester, was removed from her vehicle and searched by a female officer. The search discovered a clear plastic baggie containing 13 individually packaged small rocks of crack cocaine. Ms. Byfield was charged with Distribution of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act.

Inside Ms. Byfield’s vehicle were her two young daughters, a 6 year old and a 3 year old. The girls were located in the rear seat sitting on booster seats. The drug transaction occurred in the presence of the young girls. Police contacted members of Ms. Byfield’s family who responded to the scene and took possession of the children. Officers filled out reports for the Department of Children and Families and submitted copies to juvenile investigators. The drugs were sent out for analysis while $85.00 in cash was confiscated. Ms. Byfield and Mr. Kessler were arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

There will be no new additional information released at this time.