Two Norwood brothers were arrested on drug charges in Walpole last Thursday - less than two weeks after similar charges brought by Norwood Police against them were dismissed due to the mishandling of drug samples by state Department of Public Health chemist Annie Dookhan.

On Thursday, Jan. 24, Walpole Police arrested 27-year-old Dejan Katic and 24-year-old Peter Katic, along with 27-year-old Derek Boutilier, also of Norwood, after a surveillance unit witnessed a hand-to-hand drug transaction. According to a Norwood Police press release, a Walpole Police detective saw Dejan Katic sell heroin to Boutilier at Katic’s place of business. Boutilier then drove to a nearby parking lot and began to prepare the drug for personal use. Detectives interrupted this and placed Boutilier under arrest for possession of a class A substance (heroin) as well as conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act.

Walpole Police then requested aid from Norwood Police detectives as well as other detectives of the Norfolk County Police Anti-Crime (NORPAC) Task Force. Dejan was observed getting into a van back at his work and was followed on to Route 95 where he was stopped by marked units. In the van with Dejan was his brother Peter Katic.

Dejan Katic was arrested for possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a class A substance (heroin) and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act. Peter was arrested for knowingly being present where heroin is kept.

Dejan and Peter Katic had both been arrested in 2011 and 2012 by Norwood Police on similar drug charges.