11-year-old boy turns in dad for selling drugs, police say

LAWRENCE, Massachusetts -- A suspected drug dealer in Massachusetts has been turned in to police by his own son.

The 11-year-old called 911 Wednesday after finding drugs in his dad's luggage.

In court, tearful relatives came to grips with charges against Yamil Mercado, accused of endangering his own son by planning to sell drugs: bags of heroin and fentanyl worth $8,500. Fentanyl is so toxic, even small amounts can be harmful.

The 11-year-old found them in his dad's luggage, but stayed away and called police.

"It is brave, courageous, of him to call us," said Chief James Fitzpatrick, Lawrence Police Department.

"He stated that he knew his father, Mr. Mercado, is a drug dealer and has already been convicted of serious charges in the past," an official said in court.

He's been arrested before for drugs and was picked up during a sting operation.

It's not the first time that young boy chose the law over his father. A year ago, he called DCF to report his dad for drugs. DCF found none at the time.

After seeing his dad appear to make a drug deal last week, he was positive he was back into drugs and he decided to make the call to police.

Mercado and the boy moved in with the boy's grandmother last week, after getting evicted. He was caring for his son after a contested divorce. Despite her grief, Mercado's sister says her nephew did the right thing.

The 11-year-old is now being cared for by his grandmother.

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