Framingham man held without bail after arrest in Waltham parking garage

Richard Torres, 41, of 89 Bethany Road, Framingham, pleaded not guilty to violating an abuse prevention order and possession with intent to distribute a class B drug at an Oct. 31 arraignment.

A police officer on a routine patrol of the Embassy Parking Garage at 234 Moody St. on Oct. 30  observed Torres sitting in his parked car with an individual who had an active restraining order against him at the time, according to the police report.

The police report also said that the officer initially recognized Torres from previous interactions and confirmed he was in violation of the abuse prevention order and requested three other officers respond to assist.

Officers arrested Torres after they searched his vehicle and located paraphernalia related to narcotics distribution and found him to be in violation of an abuse prevention order on Oct. 30. The police report said the initial officer on scene observed Torres exit his car holding a door control panel and later saw visible loose panels throughout the car, which are common for drug storage, according to the report.

Additionally, upon searching Torres’ backpack, officers found a glass pipe with burnt crack cocaine residue, another broken pipe with residue as well, a portable scale and a one-pound box of baking soda.

Framingham police assisted the search using a K-9 and officers located more paraphernalia including a used hypodermic needle, bags for distribution, a copper brillo, three thin metal bars with crack cocaine residue, another portable scale and five fentanyl test strips throughout the car as well as a small amount of crack cocaine on the vehicle’s floor, according to the police report.

Waltham District Court Judge Ellen M. Caulo ordered Torres be held without bail at the Middlesex Jail in Billerica after approving a motion from Framingham District Court to revoke his bail for 90 days.

Torres is scheduled to appear at Waltham District Court via Zoom for a probable cause hearing on Dec. 4. He is set to be held without bail until Jan. 30, 2026.

Additional court actions:

Waltham District Court Judge Ellen M. Caulo rescheduled a Nov. 3 probable cause hearing for Gaby Sandoval-Matute, 31, of 83 Lexington St., Waltham. Caulo ordered Sandoval-Matute remain committed to Middlesex Correctional Institute in Framingham in lieu of $7,500 bail. Sandoval-Matute pleaded not guilty to withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding, conspiracy, assault and battery with a firearm, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, extortion by threat of injury, felony possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card at an arraignment on Jul. 30. She is scheduled to appear at Waltham District Court via Zoom on Dec 3.

Waltham District Court Judge Sharon Lalli rescheduled a Nov. 6 probable cause hearing for Thomas James Verdini, 19, of 25 Crescent St., Waltham. Verdini pleaded not guilty to five charges of possession with intent to distribute a class B drug, two charges of possession with intent to distribute a class C drug, charges of possession with intent to distribute class D and E drugs, and underage possession of liquor at an Oct. 27 arraignment at Waltham District Court. According to court records, Verdini is currently on GPS home confinement.All information for this story was gathered from official court documents found at Waltham District Court and case information from masscourts.org.