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ATTLEBORO - The girlfriend of an alleged drug dealer busted last week offered to "take the fall" for her boyfriend and, in overheard conversations in a police cell block, also threatened to kill the son of a city police officer, witnesses testified Monday.

Lindsey Donahue, 20, was overheard telling her boyfriend, Anthony Ruggiero, that "she would take the fall" and say drugs found in Ruggiero's bedroom were hers because she did not have a criminal record, Trooper Paul Baker testified in Attleboro District Court.

Donahue also allegedly said she knew the son of Attleboro police Sgt. Michael McDonnell, and that when she got out of jail "she was going to kill him," cell attendant Sandra Martin testified.

Martin, who listened as the two talked to each other from separate cells 20 feet apart at the Attleboro Police Station, said she took the threat seriously and reported it immediately to McDonnell.

The motive for the threat was not explained. McDonnell, whom Donahue mistakenly thought was a lieutenant, was the shift commander last Tuesday night when she and Ruggiero were held in custody. But neither McDonnell nor his son were involved in the drug investigation, according to testimony.

Her lawyer, Jean Whitney, said her client was angry and upset and called the alleged threats "carrying on and mouthing off in the cell block."

She argued police did not take the alleged threat seriously because neither the state nor local police investigated the matter. No charges have been filed in connection with the alleged threats.

Ruggiero, 21, and Donahue were arrested last Tuesday after a month-long investigation by state police from the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, the Bristol County Drug Task Force and local police.

Ruggiero, who was the target of the investigation, allegedly sold marijuana to a confidential informant before police raided his home at 1227 South Main St., according to testimony and court records.