NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford police said it took a gun and “a sizeable amount of narcotics” off the street after the arrest of a wanted man with multiple actives warrants. Jesse Soares, 41, is charged with a “variety of offenses,” including cocaine trafficking of over 200 grams, fentanyl trafficking of over 36 grams, and being a felon in possession of a high-capacity firearm with a defaced serial number, according to police. On Dec. 14, New Bedford police were searching for Soares who avoided capture in a police pursuit in November, and had seven warrants out for his arrest. Around noon, detectives found the defendant inside his vehicle at his residence, where he was arrested and then taken into custody. Following the arrest, police said they found Soares to allegedly be in possession of a plastic baggie of cocaine, digital scales, and several round of 9mm ammunition. Police then executed a search warrant for his address, where they discovered over 650 grams of cocaine, 88 grams of fentanyl, and a handgun with a defaced serial number. The defendant was also allegedly found to possess two high-capacity magazines, over 80 rounds of ammunition, and $5,534 of proceeds from his alleged illicit drug trade. Police said Soares “has a history of serious offenses,” including a five-year sentence for an armed robbery in 2003, and a 10-year sentence for armed robbery and possession of a sawed-off shotgun in 2011. According to police, his cocaine trafficking charge alone “has the potential of carrying a minimum mandatory sentence of 12 years under Massachusetts law.” New Bedford police ask anyone with information to contact them through their anonymous hotline at 508-99-CRIME, or by submitting a tip on their website. Categories: Massachusetts, New Bedford, News