Canton Animal Control Officer Found with Cocaine in Town Van, Police Said

The Canton last week in Stoughton allegedly bought cocaine from a drug dealer while in his town Animal Control van.

Paul Bastable was arrested on August 8 when police spotted a “small glassine baggie containing a white substance” in plain sight in his van, according to a Stoughton Police report written by Detective Erik Feist.

The substance tested positive for cocaine, according to the police report.

Bastable, 40,  was found to be in possession of four grams of cocaine, valued at $400, according to police. Armando (Cedona) Arocho, who was also arrested, was found to be in possession of 14 grams of cocaine valued at $1,700 and had $175 worth of heroine, according to police.

The Canton resident was charged with possession of a Class B drug; possession to distribute a Class B drug; and conspiracy to violate drug law, according to police.

Stoughton Police also arrested Arocho at the scene. The 28-year-old Malden resident was charged with trafficking cocaine; distributing cocaine; possession to distribute a Class A drug; possession of a Class A drug; and conspiracy to violate drug law.

Stoughton Police encountered Bastable during a police surveillance targeting Arocho in the Page’s Market parking lot in Stoughton.

According to the report, Bastable did not enter the store. He parked his van, entered a Gray Honda that Arocho was driving, sat in the passenger seat for less than one minute, got back into his Animal Control van and drove off down Pearl Street toward Canton.

When the officer pulled Bastable over, he asked him whom he was meeting at Page’s.  “Bastable told me that he was meeting a guy in a gray mini-van that had some information on a lost dog,” Det. Feist stated in his report.

Bastable was arraigned on August 9 in Stoughton District Court.  He is due back in court on September 20 for a pre-trial hearing.

The Board of Selectmen placed Bastable on paid administrative leave on August 9 during the town's internal investigation.

Stoughton Patch Editor Jeff Pickette contributed to this report.