A cocaine trafficker who assaulted, injured and attempted to disarm Massachusetts State Police troopers during an incident in Dartmouth about two years ago was sentenced to serve eight to 10 years in state prison on Oct. 5, Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Guillermo Santana, 38, pled guilty to indictments charging him with three counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and one count each of trafficking cocaine, possession of a Class A drug, carrying an illegal firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and resisting arrest, according to the District Attorney’s office. 

The original incident occurred in August 2021, when Trooper Cody Smith pulled Santana’s vehicle over for suspicious behavior. 

When asked if he had a valid ID, Santana stated “No”, and was then asked to step out from the vehicle, according to the District Attorney’s office. The defendant refused. At this point, Trooper Smith was joined by Troopers Alex and Ryan Boswell, who all attempted to secure the defendant’s arms to remove him from the vehicle.

The defendant then attempted to get back in the vehicle towards the center console and a struggle ensued between the three troopers and the defendant, who was resisting being hand cuffed and angling himself between the car door and the driver’s panel. Based on defendant’s size, the troopers were getting physically worn-down attempting to subdue the defendant and attempted to tase him. The defendant broke free with one hand cuffed, and the other cuff was open, potentially acting as a weapon. The defendant also reached for his waistband at this time.

According to the District’ Attorney’s office, the defendant and the troopers then fell to the ground, at which time the defendant attempted to reach for one of the troopers’ firearm. Trooper Smith then deployed his taser, which was unsuccessful. The defendant backed away and pulled the taser prongs out of his own arms and torso.  He then began to run from the troopers across the parking lot of the motel.

Eventually, a fourth trooper deployed his taser and the defendant collapsed.  As the defendant fell to the ground, troopers discovered he was armed, according to the District Attorney’s office. Multiple troopers sustained injuries as a result of the struggle/arrest of the defendant including Trooper Ryan Boswell, Trooper Alex Boswell, and Trooper Cody Smith.

The firearm, an M&P Shield 9mm handgun, was fully loaded. Inside the fanny pack, police found $7,000 in cash, 32 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, scissors and sandwich bags.  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Catherine Sauter and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan.