A Fall River man is facing heroin trafficking charges following a major drug bust Monday in the South Coast Market Place parking lot.

Brian Fraga Herald News Staff Reporter @BfragaHN

FALL RIVER — A Fall River man is facing heroin trafficking charges following a major drug bust Monday in the South Coast Market Place parking lot.

Detective Luis Duarte and other members of the Fall River Police Department's Vice and Intelligence Unit seized about 285 grams of heroin, packaged in more than 1,500 glassine bags, as well as $3,093 in cash, 92 assorted pills, six Suboxone oral film strips, a digital scale and two metal hand sifters, according to court documents.

The detectives arrested Stephen Arpa, 27, of 782 Rock St., after reportedly witnessing him selling drugs in an alleged hand-to-hand drug transaction in the retail plaza's parking lot, according to court documents.

Arpa was ordered to be held without bail following a dangerousness hearing Tuesday in Fall River District Court. He is charged with trafficking heroin, 200 grams or more, as well as possession to distribute Class A, B and E drugs.

The police detectives were in the South Coast Market Place parking lot on Monday when they reported seeing Arpa, known to them as a "drug-involved party," walking out of Market Basket with two other people. The detectives said they observed Arpa and his companions as they approached two parked vehicles. After witnessing the alleged drug deal, the detectives began following Arpa, who reportedly got into his vehicle and began weaving in and out of the lot's parking lanes, according to court documents.

When the detectives approached Arpa, he allegedly tried to run off, but was stopped by Detective Athan Parousis. Both fell to the ground, causing several bags of heroin, assorted pills and Suboxone to fall out of Arpa's jacket, according to court documents.

Police also spoke with a man who told the detectives that he had just obtained six bags of heroin from Arpa, according to court documents.

Ordered to be held without bail for up to 120 days, Arpa is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on June 7.

Email Brian Fraga at bfraga@heraldnews.com