Springfield police arrest 4 suspects for trafficking heroin, seize unusually potent form of drug with street value of $22,000

The ring sold some 2,000 bags a week in the Greater Springfield area.

Left to right: Douglas Denmark, Matthew Denmark, Henry Parzychowski, Terrance Bowers

This is an update of a story posted at 7:36 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD – Police busted up a large-scale heroin distribution ring Friday that sold some 2,000 bags a week of an unusually potent form of the drug.

The Springfield Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit recovered nearly 1,100 bags of heroin with a combined street value of some $22,000, Sgt. John M. Delaney said.

Police arrested four suspects, three from Springfield and one from Chicopee. Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said the ring supplied addicts in Indian Orchard, Chicopee, Ludlow and Springfield.

Arrested were: Matthew J. Denmark, 24, of 412 St. James Ave.; Terrance Bowers, 23, of 412 St. James Ave.; Douglas Denmark, 23, of 72 Darling St., Apt. A.; and Henry Parzychowski, 32, of 31 Rose St., Apt. 1L, Chicopee, Delaney said.

Along with heroin trafficking (28-100 grams), the suspects were charged with violation of a drug-free school zone, Delaney said.

The unit, led by Sgt. Steven Kent, arrested ringleader Douglas Denmark and Parzychowski and recovered 50 bags of heroin when they interrupted a drug deal in a parking lot near 1360 Carew St., across the street from the Mary O. Pottenger School, Delaney said.

“The heroin they were pushing is very potent and was not your typical bag usually sold on the streets of Springfield,” Delaney said, adding that the bags sold for $20 apiece, not the usual $5 going price for the city.

The heroin was in high demaned and the suspects had a large customer base, Delaney said.

After arresting the two suspects, police raided 412 St. James Ave. where they arrested the remaining two suspects and recovered another 1,032 bags of heroin.

Police also seized over $300 in cash and drug paraphernalia, Delaney said.

Springfield police arrested Douglas Denmark with 100 bags of heroin on June 6. He was out on bail when he and the others were arrested Friday, Delaney said.