Melrose Police charge Saugus man for alleged drugs, guns and domestic violence

A 33-year-old Saugus man faces numerous serious criminal charges – for domestic violence, drugs and guns offenses – after his arrest last Saturday by Melrose police, who called in a SWAT team for assistance. Azer Sarotic was charged with assault and battery on a family or household member, kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (firearm), threatening to commit a crime (murder), witness intimidation, trafficking in crystal methamphetamine, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine and three counts of possession of a firearm without a license (subsequent offense). Sarotic was arraigned on Monday in Malden District Court, where he was ordered held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing scheduled for yesterday (Thursday, March 14).

Shortly after 10 a.m. last Saturday (March 9), Melrose Police received a report of a past domestic assault that occurred overnight in a home in that city. A woman alleged to police that Sarotic assaulted her, held her against her will at gunpoint, bit her, punched her and struck her in the head with a firearm, according to Melrose police.

In response to the report, police went to a home on Sylvan Street in Melrose shortly before noon in search of Sarotic. He refused to exit the home initially. Police believed he was armed, so they requested assistance from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) SWAT Team and its specially trained negotiators. Upon the arrival of the NEMLEC SWAT Team, Sarotic surrendered without further incident.

“I would like to commend our officers and our partners from NEMLEC SWAT for their professionalism in peacefully resolving a potentially violent situation,” Melrose Police Chief Kevin Faller said in a press release issued by his office.

“This was a tense situation that could have ended quite differently, and it is a testament to the ongoing training our law enforcement officers receive in de-escalation and tactically responding to critical incidents,” Chief Faller said.

Melrose Police obtained a search warrant for the home on Sylvan Street, where they reportedly recovered large amounts of methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as two handguns and a shotgun.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.