SHARE

Driver Charged With Using School Bus To Deal Heroin In Fairfield County

A school bus driver for the Bridgeport School District was nailed by police for using the bus to deal heroin in Fairfield County, according to the Stratford Police.

Garfield Howell, 29

Garfield Howell, 29

Photo Credit: Stratford Police Department
Some of the drugs seized by Stratford.

Some of the drugs seized by Stratford.

Photo Credit: Stratford Police Department

Garfield Howell, 29, of Stratford, was arrested Thursday, following a months-long investigation by the Stratford Police Narcotics Vice and Intelligence Unit, said Capt. Frank Eannotti. 

During the investigation, detectives found that Howell, a school bus driver for WE Transport in Bridgeport, using the bus to purchase and deliver heroin on numerous occasions, Eannotti said.

Thursday, the Stratford unit, along with members of the Bridgeport Police, executed a search warrant at his residence on Barnum Avenue where they seized more than 195 grams of heroin, he added.

 Howell was arrested and charged with fours counts of sale of narcotics, two counts of conspiracy to sell narcotics and risk of injury to a minor.

Raul Laffitte, director of transportation for the Bridgeport School District, said that Howell drove for two schools, New Beginning Charter School and Dunbar Elementary School. 

Laffitte said Howell had not been fired from WE Transport due to an investigation and due process as part of his union membership.

"He will not be driving buses for the district if found to be guilty," he said. "We can not have that kind of illegal activity near students, especially drug dealing. We protect our students."

Attempts to reach WE Transport were unsuccessful.

Howell is being held on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 18.

to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE