How Police Investigated Waltham DPW Worker's Drug Activity

Court documents reveal additional details of how police investigated and arrested two men on drug charges, including a Waltham Consolidated Public Works employee.

David M. Caira, of 52 Bennett St., Waltham, a Waltham public works employee, faces serious drug charges after police recently arrested the pair in Newton. Police also arrested Domenic Castrioatta, of Acton, on drug charges. 

INVESTIGATION BEGINS (Sources: Mayor’s statement and Newton District Court records)

·      The investigation began after Mayor Jeannette McCarthy received a complaint regarding Caira, which she forwarded to Waltham Police, the mayor said in a statement.

·      The Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force began a year-long investigation into Caira’s alleged drug activity. During the inquiry, police received information from informants that Caira was buying and selling drugs while at work, according to police reports.

·      Over the past year, police conducted surveillance of a known drug dealer named Luis Gerena and discovered he was driving a car registered to Caira's address, 52 Bennett St. On one occasion, officers saw the car park behind a city-owned vehicle, operated by Caira, on Hall Street in Waltham. The two men allegedly conducted a hand-to-hand drug transaction, according to police reports.

·      As police were investigating Gerena, they spotted him driving a car registered to three other individuals which police think was meant to conceal their identity, according to police reports. Police later arrested Gerena on July 26 on drug charges.

·      On May 15, 2013, police, acting on information from informants of drug activity occurring at the Auto Zone on Lexington Street in Waltham, spotted Caira pull into the parking lot and later enter the store after Gerena arrived, according to police reports. One minute after the pair entered, Caira emerged without the bag with which he had entered the store. Caira got into a city-owned vehicle and returned to the CPW yard on Lexington Street.

·      At 3:30 p.m. on the same day, officers spotted a car, with a female driving and two male passengers, pull into the Auto Zone lot. After Caira arrived, in a different vehicle, at the nearby Dunkin Donuts, the pair allegedly conducted a drug transaction in the parking lot. Caira later left the area after getting coffee in the Dunkin Donuts.

·      On Aug. 7, at 9 a.m. police set up surveillance outside of the CPW yard and later spotted Caira leaving the lot at 11 a.m., according to police reports. Police followed him to his Bennett Street home. As officers watched Caira, a second car, driven by Castriotta, pulled up to the home. Castriotta hopped in Caira’s car and left the area.

·      Police followed the pair to a Home Depot in South Attleboro where another transaction allegedly took place, according to police reports. While there, police spotted a car driven by a man with the same address as Caira, arrive at the parking lot. The pair entered the store.

·      “While in the store, Caira and [the other man] were observed wandering up and down the aisles showing no interest in any items sold at the store and appeared to be trying to blend in. They were also nervously looking around scanning the area to see if anyone was watching,” the report states.

·      Both men then left store and police spotted Castrioatta in Caira's car, ripping open a bag. Based on their observations, police concluded Caira had purchased an unknown amount of drugs from the other man in the store.

·      Police followed Castriotta and Caira to the intersection of Rowe and Webster streets in Newton where police used their cars to corner the pair. Police arrested the pair and searched the car. Police found what they believe is cocaine, in a bag, and another substance think believe is heroin.