A traffic stop attempt in Barre Tuesday night led to a police pursuit and the arrest of two out-of-state men, including one already under investigation for alleged drug trafficking in the area.

According to Barre City Police Department, officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a moving violation at about 9:09 p.m. March 3 on Maple Avenue. The vehicle fled, prompting a pursuit that continued into Plainfield, where the car eventually stopped.

Police said the driver, identified as Jaquan Leatherwood, 36, of Windsor, was taken into custody. Leatherwood was charged with eluding police, gross negligent operation and reckless endangerment.

Leatherwood was lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in lieu of $15,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in Windsor County Superior Court on March 4 at 12:30 p.m.

Police said the passenger, Hussien Mohamed, 19, of Springfield, was known to officers by the street name “Drako” and had been sought in several recent drug trafficking investigations in the Barre area.
Mohamed was arrested and charged with conspiracy, cocaine sales and fentanyl sales. He was lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail and was also scheduled to appear in Windsor County Superior Court on March 4.

The rental vehicle involved in the pursuit was seized by police. After obtaining a search warrant, officers reported finding a large amount of cash, a small quantity of crack cocaine and a jar of petroleum jelly inside the vehicle.

Authorities said a body scan conducted at the correctional facility indicated Mohamed had a foreign object in his rectum consistent with suspected “body packing,” a method used to conceal drugs internally. He was placed in a dry cell under constant observation until the object can be retrieved.

Police said additional charges may be filed pending the outcome of that investigation.