BERNARDSTON — Three Vermonters face charges following their arrests while traveling on Interstate 91 early Monday morning with suspected narcotics in the vehicle they were in.

Benjamin Kendall, 31, of Vershire, Vt., Brooke Rowell, 37, of Concord, Vt., and Jesse Pease, 39, of West Fairlee, Vt., were stopped by Massachusetts State Police while going 88 mph in a 65 mph zone in a Chevrolet Silverado at roughly 1 a.m.

State Trooper Michael Leslie, assigned to the Shelburne Falls barracks, was on patrol on Interstate 91 in Bernardston when he noticed the speeding vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. According to a State Police press release, the driver, Kendall, allegedly told Leslie he did not have identification on him and explained the truck was a rental, but he was unaware who rented it. Kendall was arrested after it was learned he did not have a driver’s license.

According to the release, Leslie saw that the truck contained items consistent with the sale, use and transport of narcotics, and Rowell and Pease, the vehicle’s other two occupants, were removed from the vehicle to allow for a search. State Police Trooper Nathan Jackman and Greenfield Police Officer Emily Rowell responded to assist. (Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. said he does not believe his officer is related to the arrested Rowell.)

Authorities located approximately 200 wax baggies containing a substance suspected to be heroin, approximately 10 grams of a substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine, approximately two grams of a substance suspected to be cocaine, and nine pills, according to the release.

State Police Trooper Greg Valentine then arrived at the scene with K-9 Kyber to search the truck. Kyber alerted authorities to the vehicle’s dashboard, which was determined to have been tampered with. According to the release, troopers found 16 large bricks — each containing 300 bags — of a substance suspected to be fentanyl, as well as additional packages of heroin, in the dash.

The three individuals were transported to the Shelburne Falls State Police barracks for booking, and were arraigned in Greenfield District Court on Monday.

Kendall faces charges of trafficking in heroin, possession of a Class A substance, possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute, possession of a Class B substance, possession of a Class E substance, conspiracy to violate drug law, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, not being in possession of a driver’s license and a license plate violation.

Rowell was arraigned for trafficking in heroin, possession of a Class A substance, possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a Class B substance, possession of a Class E substance, conspiracy to violate drug law and intimidating a witness/juror/police/court official.

Pease, who also had an active warrant for his arrest, was charged with trafficking in heroin, possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a Class B substance, conspiracy to violate drug law and intimidating a witness/juror/police/court official.

According to Greenfield District Court officials, all three were held at the Franklin County House of Correction on $2,500 bail.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.

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