Jose Mercedes-Leon, 35, who is believed to live in the Lawrence area, was being held without bail last night on charges of resisting arrest,

Jose Mercedes-Leon, 35, who is believed to live in the Lawrence area, was being held without bail last night on charges of resisting arrest, trespassing, distribution of heroin, subsequent offense, conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws, being a disorderly person, giving a false name to a police officer, and being a fugitive from justice, according to Sgt. Christian Max.Police arrested a Lawrence area man on drug charges last night after he led them on a 45-minute foot chase through the woods.Mercedes-Leon is wanted out of Rhode Island on a charge of aggravated assault and battery with a weapon, Max said. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Lawrence District Court.Max said the department's drug unit was monitoring the Lowell Street/Wheeler Avenue area yesterday because there had been complaints about drug activity. Just before 5 p.m., police observed what they believed to be a drug transaction taking place, and when they attempted to apprehend the suspect, Mercedes-Leon, he ran into the woods near Wheeler Avenue.Detective Arthur Hardy chased Mercedes-Leon into the woods on foot, setting off a police chase that lasted just short of an hour. Other officers were called in to set up a perimeter, and they were ultimately able to apprehend Mercedes-Leon.Also arrested as a result of the investigation were Walter Zachary, 19, of Maine, and Blair Despres, 18, of Hallowell, Maine, Max said. Both men were charged with trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.Zachary and Despres were being held on $10,000 bail last night and were scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. Max said 15 grams of heroin and $1,200 cash were found in their possession.