Fall River man who was texting and driving was arrested after seizing drugs during a traffic stop

Massachusetts State Police

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WWLP) – A Fall River man was arrested after texting and driving led to a drug bust last week.

According to Massachusetts State Police, troopers conducted traffic stops in Fall River on May 1 as part of the Dartmouth Barracks midnight shift. As officers monitored traffic on Pleasant Street, they observed a Nissan SUV being driven by a man holding his phone in front of him.

One of the police officers conducted a traffic stop and approached the driver. It was discovered that the driver’s license was revoked. The driver, 55 years old Michael Couto of Fall River was removed from the vehicle and placed in handcuffs. A search was conducted at Couto’s home and a golf ball-sized bag of fentanyl and a smaller bag of crack cocaine were found.

Couto’s SUV was then searched and several bundled packages of fentanyl and a stun gun were found in a backpack inside. He does not have a license to use a stun gun, which is mandatory.

Couto was taken to the Dartmouth Barracks and was found to be in possession of approximately 79 grams of fentanyl and 8 grams of crack cocaine. He was charged in Fall River District Court with:

• Fentanyl trafficking
• Possession with intent to distribute cocaine (subsequent offense)
• Cocaine possession (subsequent offense)
• Possession of an electric stun gun
• Operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license
• Hold an electronic device while driving