Opinion ID: 200778
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 3 On August 8, 2001, an agent of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) contacted Ron Idano (Idano), Reyes's co-defendant, seeking to purchase drugs. The MDEA agent arranged to meet Idano to purchase two 8-balls (7 grams total) of cocaine for $500. Departing from the Howard Johnson's Hotel, Idano and Benjamín Cruz (Cruz), another co-defendant, set out to complete the sale. Idano and Cruz were arrested after the money and drugs were exchanged. 4 The MDEA learned that Cruz had gone to the Howard Johnson's Hotel before engaging in the drug sale. MDEA agents went to the Howard Johnson's to find Cruz's room. They knocked on the door and Reyes opened it. The agents, disguised as hotel employees, inquired if it was Cruz's room. Reyes replied in the affirmative, but informed the disguised agents that Cruz was not in the room. An agent then identified himself as a police officer, causing Reyes to bolt away from the door, run into the bathroom, and close the door. The agents forced their way into the bathroom and retrieved a cocaine-filled plastic bag from Reyes's mouth. Reyes was arrested. 5 The room at the Howard Johnson's contained loose cocaine, a two-way radio, and receipts for a room at the Days Inn. Subsequently, the Days Inn room was searched. Cocaine, digital scales, a two-way radio, and marijuana were seized.