Arrest of Councillor's Son Ordered

A Cambridge judge last week ordered the arrest of the son of City Councillor and former State Rep. Saundra M. Graham after he failed to appear at a February 14 court hearing for charges of cocaine trafficking.

Thomas Samoluk, a spokesperson for the Middlesex district attorney's office, said the location of Darrell Graham, 24, is currently unknown. His trial, originally scheduled for March 1, has been postponed until he is found.

Graham was arrested with his brother David in January 1988 in a combined effort by Boston, Cambridge and state police. He was last seen at his district court appearance on December 15, 1988.

Darrell Graham's arrest is the latest in a series of drug-related incidents that have plagued his family. Both of Graham's brothers have been arrested previously for drug-related offenses.

Charges against David Graham were dropped early last year, Samoluk said.

Saundra Graham, a 12-term state representative, lost the Democratic nomination for her seat to political newcomer Alvin E. Thompson in September primaries. After waging a vigorous write-in and sticker campaign to win back the seat, she lost again to Thompson in November's general election.

Graham, one of the City Council's strongest supporters of rent control and affordable housing since she was first elected in 1971, announced this summer that she would not seek another council term.

Several city residents have attributed Graham's political problems to her family difficulties. But in an interview yesterday Graham said her children's troubles have not affected her career. She said the legal action taken against Darrell "has nothing to do with my public life...He's not the politician, I am."