A trooper saw a Dodge Sprinter van pass his unmarked cruiser at a high rate of speed on I-91 northbound in Hartford at about 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 12, Connecticut State Police said.
The trooper tried to pull the van over, but it continued traveling until it stopped at the bottom of Exit 32, police said.
When the trooper approached the van, the driver, identified as 52-year-old Mauro Spagnolo, of Rocky Hill, was seen handling items that looked like narcotics, police said.
Authorities said Spagnolo and a passenger, identified as 48-year-old Heather Dube, of Hartford, were detained.
Police then found the packages of suspected fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine, along with drug paraphernalia, in the van, according to the report.
State Police also determined that Dube was wanted on a Paperless Re-Arrest Warrant, authorities said.
Spagnolo and Dube were both arrested, authorities said.
Police said Spagnolo was charged with:
- Reckless driving
- Illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension
- Possession of a controlled substance
Authorities said Dube was charged with:
- Second-degree failure to appear
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Use of drug paraphernalia
Spagnolo and Dube are scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, Oct. 4, State Police reported.
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