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For several months, the Darien Police Department's Selective Enforcement Unit, Detective Division, and Patrol Division have been conducting "a complex investigation regarding illicit activity involving Mark Yarish," police said.
"Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation" and because it involved numerous juvenile victims, Yarish was arrested twice previously — on July 24 and Sept. 1, police said.
As the investigation developed, detectives uncovered evidence of Yarish's sales of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco to Darien juveniles, police said.
These transactions — conducted via text messages and phone calls — have occurred almost daily since December, police said. Yarish delivered the products to the juveniles at a substantial markup over cost, police said.
Yarish, of 20 Cherry St., was charged Friday with six counts of risk of injury to a minor and one count of second-degree reckless endangerment.
Related story: Police: Darien Man, 51, Used Cocaine With Teens As Young As 14
Yarish was held on $250,000 court-set bond and remains in the custody of the Darien Police Department.
On Friday, Darien detectives had secured a third arrest warrant for Yarish and learned he was at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville.
Detectives contacted the Mohegan Tribal Police Department and informed them of Yarish’s active arrest warrant. At 2:30 p.m., Darien police learned he had been located at the casino.
Detectives responded, took custody of Yarish and transported him back to Darien.
Related story: Police: Darien Man, 51, Filled Alcohol Orders From Teens Via Text Message
The Department of Children and Families continues to be a part of this investigation and has been working with police to ensure the safety of the involved juveniles, police said.
On July 24, Yarish was arrested after police said he was buying alcohol for teens at a substantial markup for several months. He took orders via text messages and phone calls, buying the alcohol at local establishments, and delivering it to teens from Darien at a substantial markup, according to police.
Yarish was charged with felony counts of providing alcohol to minors and risk of injury to a minor and released on $40,000 bond.
On Sept. 1, he was arrested on multiple charges of using cocaine with juveniles as young as 14 in his Darien home, police said. He was charged with five counts of risk of injury to a minor and one count of second-degree reckless endangerment, police said. Bond was set at $100,000 in that case.
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