Tag:

Fentanyl

Trio Arrested After Lengthy CT Narcotic Task Force Investigation Trio Arrested After Lengthy CT Narcotic Task Force Investigation
Trio Arrested After Lengthy CT Narcotic Task Force Investigation Police say three men face narcotics charges after an investigation into drug trafficking in and around Manchester. Jerry Mercado, 39, of Hartford, and Yosti Vega, 45, of East Hartford, were arrested last week after investigators with the East Central Narcotics Task Force stopped their vehicle. He said officers seized fentanyl, cocaine, PCP, and cash during the stop. Mercado faces several charges. Those include possession with intent to sell a narcotic substance, possession with intent to sell one ounce or more of a narcotic substance, possession of a controlled substance, operating a drug f…
Plainfield Man Dumped Woman's Body In Woods With Hopes Animals Would Help Dispose Of Body: Cops Plainfield Man Dumped Woman's Body In Woods With Hopes Animals Would Help Dispose Of Body: Cops
Plainfield Man Dumped Woman's Body In Woods With Hopes Animals Would Help Dispose Of Body: Cops A Connecticut man is facing charges after police say he admitted to hiding the body of a woman whose skeletal remains were discovered in the woods, hoping animals would dispose of her body, authorities said.  Vendetta Robinson, 44, of Plainfield, was arrested after detectives linked him to the death of Alicia Balderston, 33, who had been missing for about six months before authorities located her body about 100 feet off Lowell Davis Road in Thompson, Connecticut State Police.  Original Report: Remains Found In Thompson ID'd As Missing 33-Year-Old Woman Detectives said…
Sen. Booker Spars With FBI Director Patel: 'You're Not Going To Be Around Long' Sen. Booker Spars With FBI Director Patel: 'You're Not Going To Be Around Long'
Sen. Booker Spars With FBI Director Patel: 'You're Not Going To Be Around Long' Things got heated between Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ and FBI Director Kash Patel at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, Sept. 16. Patel was appearing following questions about his handling of the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the bureau's investigation into New York financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "This is a mockery you're making of this hearing," Booker said, growing frustrated at Patel as he grilled him over the firing of several FBI agents. Booker then went for the jugular. "I believe you have made our country…
Man Rams Cop Cruiser, Runs From Police Before Huge CT Drug Bust: Officials Man Rams Cop Cruiser, Runs From Police Before Huge CT Drug Bust: Officials
Man Rams Cop Cruiser, Runs From Police Before Huge CT Drug Bust: Officials Police say a Manchester man tried to ram his car into a cruiser and run from officers before being caught with a large stash of fentanyl and crack cocaine. Gladstone Benjamin, 34, was spotted near a vehicle in the parking lot of the Manchester Inn on East Center Street when an officer “suspected narcotics activity was taking place.” The man speaking with Benjamin had two children with him, authorities noted.  When police pulled up in front of his car, Benjamin jumped into the driver’s seat. According to officers, he “accelerated forward, colliding with the police cruiser in an attempt …
CT Woman Found Dead In Jail Cell Died Of Drug Overdose, Inquiry Found, But Questions Remain CT Woman Found Dead In Jail Cell Died Of Drug Overdose, Inquiry Found, But Questions Remain
CT Woman Found Dead In Jail Cell Died Of Drug Overdose, Inquiry Found, But Questions Remain A state watchdog says a 32-year-old woman who died last year while locked up at York Correctional Institution in Niantic was killed by a deadly mix of fentanyl, chlordiazepoxide, and the veterinary sedative xylazine after drugs slipped past prison walls. She had given birth a month earlier.  Ashley Morin, of Bristol, was the subject of an Office of Inspector General’s 52-page report that tried to discover how she died while in custody on Aug. 24, 2024, just five days after she was arrested.  Bristol police arrested Morin on a charge of violating a protective order. …
CT Woman Claimed To Be Devil Before Setting House On Fire, Shooting At Boyfriend: Cops CT Woman Claimed To Be Devil Before Setting House On Fire, Shooting At Boyfriend: Cops
CT Woman Claimed To Be Devil Before Setting House On Fire, Shooting At Boyfriend: Cops A 42-year-old man told police he awoke to his girlfriend pointing a gun at his head and claiming she was Lucifer. She told him that they needed to kill the neighbors before she allegedly set their home on fire, authorities said. Megan Dunkin, 31, of Harwinton, turned herself in to police on Tuesday, June 24. She faces multiple charges in connection with the incident, according to the Connecticut State Police. The ordeal began on June 12, when Dunkin’s partner said she started rambling and running around their home, an arrest warrant stated. He later found her burning a hole in a shower curt…
Manchester Police, DEA Raid Apartment in Fentanyl, Cocaine Bust Manchester Police, DEA Raid Apartment in Fentanyl, Cocaine Bust
Manchester Police, DEA Raid Apartment in Fentanyl, Cocaine Bust Manchester police, working with federal DEA agents, executed a drug raid that led to the arrest of a local man accused of operating a drug factory and dealing dangerous narcotics, including fentanyl. The East Central Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Regional Office carried out a series of search warrants at an apartment at 88-7 Oak Street in Manchester.  The focus of the investigation was Derrick Lee, a 25-year-old from Manchester, authorities said. Inside the apartment, investigators uncovered a stash of illegal drugs — 10 grams of raw fentanyl …
Motel Den Drug Bust: Fentanyl, Crack, Guns Seized From CT Trio, Cops Say Motel Den Drug Bust: Fentanyl, Crack, Guns Seized From CT Trio, Cops Say
Motel Den Drug Bust: Fentanyl, Crack, Guns Seized From CT Trio, Cops Say A Connecticut motel room loaded with crack cocaine, fentanyl, stolen goods, and even candy, was busted Tuesday in a sweeping operation that netted three arrests, multiple weapons, and more than $22,000 in drugs, police said. Alexander Vargas was taken into custody on Tuesday, May 13, after members of the West Haven Street Crime Unit and Uniformed Patrol Division stopped his vehicle around 2 p.m., police said. Investigators had been tracking Vargas since April, after learning he was allegedly dealing crack cocaine and fentanyl out of a room at the Econo Lodge Motel in West Haven, according t…
US, China Cut Tariffs In 'Substantial De-Escalation' Of Trump's Trade War US, China Cut Tariffs In 'Substantial De-Escalation' Of Trump's Trade War
US, China Cut Tariffs In 'Substantial De-Escalation' Of Trump's Trade War The US and China are stepping back from extremely high retaliatory tariffs placed on each other, lowering the duty rates to ease tensions and negotiate a potential trade deal. The White House announced the tariff-lowering agreement on Monday, May 12. Both countries will reduce their tariffs to a baseline 10% rate, with the US continuing to impose its 20% tariff on China related to fentanyl. The drastic reduction comes after President Donald Trump dramatically raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a combined 145%, causing Beijing to retaliate with a 125% tariff on US goods. The agreement also…
Prostitute, DUI Driver Caught Having Sex In Porsche Blocking CT Police Barracks: Cops Prostitute, DUI Driver Caught Having Sex In Porsche Blocking CT Police Barracks: Cops
Prostitute, DUI Driver Caught Having Sex In Porsche Blocking CT Police Barracks: Cops There are bad places to get frisky — and then there’s right outside a state police barracks. A man and woman were arrested after Connecticut State Police said they found the pair engaged in "lewd behavior" and in possession of drugs in a car that was blocking their barracks in Hartford.  Willie Ferrell, 34, of Bloomfield, and 48-year-old Diandra Lysik of Hartford, a known prostitute, were arrested just after midnight on Tuesday, May 6, authorities said. A state trooper in Hartford spotted the duo in a Porsche SUV blocking the gate to a restricted area at the Hartford barracks and…
Wanted Man's Smelly Escape Plan Flushed After Routine Traffic Stop Lands Him In Cuffs Wanted Man's Smelly Escape Plan Flushed After Routine Traffic Stop Lands Him In Cuffs
Wanted Man's Smelly Escape Plan Flushed After Routine Traffic Stop Lands Him In Cuffs A wanted Connecticut man who police say previously escaped officers by crawling through a sewage pipe has been arrested, authorities said.  Jaylenn Baez, 29, was arrested early Sunday morning, April 13, in Wethersfield. When authorities realized he had an outstanding warrant, they handed him over to Connecticut State Police, officials said.  The warrant stems from a police chase on Feb. 25 in Vernon after police spotted him driving with the license plate from a different vehicle on his car, authorities said.  Baez refused to stop and pushed his Infiniti as hard as it would g…
Murder For Hire: CT Man Tried To Enlist Hitman Over 'Disrepect' In Major Drug Case, Feds Say Murder For Hire: CT Man Tried To Enlist Hitman Over 'Disrepect' In Major Drug Case, Feds Say
Murder For Hire: CT Man Tried To Enlist Hitman Over 'Disrepect' In Major Drug Case, Feds Say A Connecticut man is facing serious federal charges after authorities say he trafficked large amounts of deadly drugs into Vermont and tried to hire someone to commit murder, authorities said.  Tremaine Knight, 43, also known as “Brody,” of Hartford, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of murder-for-hire and distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine, the US Attorney for Rhode Island said. Federal investigators say Knight sold drugs during five undercover buys between February and March, including two deals in Brattleboro, Vermont. He allegedly brought drugs from …
Egg Smuggling Soars As US Prices Spike, Fentanyl Seizures Drop: CBP Egg Smuggling Soars As US Prices Spike, Fentanyl Seizures Drop: CBP
Egg Smuggling Soars As US Prices Spike, Fentanyl Seizures Drop: CBP U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is cracking down on a surprising contraband at the border—eggs. Egg-related seizures have surged 116% in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, with officials reporting 3,254 interceptions, according to CBP data. The spike comes as U.S. egg prices continue to soar, driven by a historic avian flu outbreak decimating poultry farms nationwide. Meanwhile, fentanyl seizures have fallen 32% year-over-year. While President Donald Trump has vowed to curb fentanyl trafficking, the more immediate smuggling crisis appears to be brea…
Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico
Trump Pauses Auto Tariffs Amid Trade War Fallout With Canada, Mexico President Donald Trump is giving US automakers a brief delay on tariffs imposed against Canada and Mexico as trade war tensions escalate and concerns rise domestically about the economy. The pause was confirmed at a news briefing by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Mar. 5. The move came one day after Trump officially placed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods while raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. The country's "Big Three" automakers — Stellantis (formerly Chrysler), Ford, and General Motors — talked with Trump abou…
Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight' Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight'
Canada, Mexico, China Retaliate As Trump's Tariffs Spark Trade Wars: 'We're Ready To Fight' Canada, Mexico, and China are responding to President Donald Trump officially placing tariffs on the three nations, escalating tensions with the US's key trading partners and increasing concerns about rising costs for American consumers. The US officially imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods on Tuesday, Mar. 4. On the same day, the US also raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 percent. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed the solution to the trade wars is bringing more businesses into the country. "IF COMPANIES MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE …
Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears
Stocks Plummet After Trump Says Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Will Start, Igniting Trade War Fears President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will take effect in less than a day, sending the stock market tumbling amid fears of a trade war. Trump said on Monday afternoon, March 3, that the US will impose 25 percent rates on imports from the two neighboring nations and the United States’ primary trading partners, effectively quashing any last-minute hopes for a negotiated agreement. “There’s no room left for Mexico or for Canada” to negotiate to prevent the tariffs from taking effect on Tuesday, March 4, Trump said at the White House, adding, “They’re all set.” The…
CT Man High On Drugs During Lisbon Crash: Cops; Also Charged In Wreck Where Newborn Later Died CT Man High On Drugs During Lisbon Crash: Cops; Also Charged In Wreck Where Newborn Later Died
CT Man High On Drugs During Lisbon Crash: Cops; Also Charged In Wreck Where Newborn Later Died A Connecticut man charged in a crash that killed a newborn last year was arrested again this week after police say he was high on fentanyl during another wreck. Eric LeBlanc, 25, was taken into custody on Wednesday, Feb. 26, following a crash on River Road in Lisbon, where officers found him with fentanyl and a loaded 9mm handgun, Connecticut State Police said.  Earlier Report: CT Man Accused in Deadly Crash Where Newborn Later Died Arrested After Another Wreck Troopers who responded to the crash said LeBlanc appeared intoxicated, noting his "pinpoint pupils and slow speech." During…
Mom Admits To Using Crack Before Crashing Car With Baby Inside On I-84: Police Mom Admits To Using Crack Before Crashing Car With Baby Inside On I-84: Police
Mom Admits To Using Crack Before Crashing Car With Baby Inside On I-84: Police A routine traffic crash quickly turned into a serious criminal investigation when police say a local woman admitted to using crack cocaine before getting behind the wheel—with a toddler in the car. Elizabeth Burnham, 35, of East Hartford, faces a litany of charges following her arrest on Monday morning, Feb. 24, Connecticut State Police said.  Troopers responded to a two-car crash on the exit 58 off-ramp from I-84 around 10:15 a.m. They found Burnham had rear-ended another vehicle because she “was not able to stop in time,” according to authorities.  No injuries were reported at …
Hartford Police Not At Fault In Inmate's Death, Report Says: 'This Is A Sad Case' Hartford Police Not At Fault In Inmate's Death, Report Says: 'This Is A Sad Case'
Hartford Police Not At Fault In Inmate's Death, Report Says: 'This Is A Sad Case' A Hartford woman who told officers she had recently used fentanyl was found dead inside a city jail cell, a state investigation determined. Linda Praylow, 49, was discovered unresponsive in her holding cell at the Hartford Police Department early in the morning of April 5, 2024. She had no pulse and was later pronounced dead at Saint Francis Hospital, according to the Office of Inspector General Report.  An investigation by the Office of the Inspector General concluded that Praylow died from acute fentanyl intoxication, made worse by underlying cardiovascular disease. The report noted …
Drug Raid Uncovers Fentanyl, High-Capacity Magazines From Dealer's CT Home: Cops Drug Raid Uncovers Fentanyl, High-Capacity Magazines From Dealer's CT Home: Cops
Drug Raid Uncovers Fentanyl, High-Capacity Magazines From Dealer's CT Home: Cops A Connecticut man is facing a slew of charges after police discovered fentanyl, crack cocaine, multiple handgun magazines, and more than $70,000 in cash inside his home, authorities said. Jimmy Farmer, 37, of Bristol, was arrested on Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, and is being held on numerous narcotics and firearms-related charges, police said. Bristol PD’s Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) arrested Farmer following the Wednesday morning raid. Police said they found the following inside of his home: Fentanyl, Crack-cocaine, digital scales that could be used for drug distribution, han…
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Just hours after a similar agreement was reached with Mexico, the United States has agreed to paused planned tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days. The deal was reached late Monday afternoon, Feb. 3 after President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded their second conversation of the day. "I just had a good call with President Trump," Trudeau said in a statement announcing that Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion border plan  "reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increase…
Trump Vows To Hit Canada, Mexico, China With Tariffs: Here's When, How Much Trump Vows To Hit Canada, Mexico, China With Tariffs: Here's When, How Much
Trump Vows To Hit Canada, Mexico, China With Tariffs: Here's When, How Much Donald Trump's months-long threats of implementing tariffs on other countries are apparently hours away from becoming a reality. Click here for a new, updated story - Trump Tariffs Take Effect: Expect To Pay More For These Items, Experts Say White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced at a news conference Friday afternoon, Jan. 31 that both of America's neighbors, Canada and Mexico, will be slapped with 25 percent tariffs on goods. A third nation, China, America's main economic rival, will be hit with 10 percent tariffs. They take effect on Saturday, Feb. 1, and are "for …
Fentanyl, Heroin Seized In Drug Raid Of Ex-Con's Waterbury Home Where Child Was Present: Cops Fentanyl, Heroin Seized In Drug Raid Of Ex-Con's Waterbury Home Where Child Was Present: Cops
Fentanyl, Heroin Seized In Drug Raid Of Ex-Con's Waterbury Home Where Child Was Present: Cops A convicted felon with an extensive criminal history is back in custody following a drug raid at a Waterbury apartment that police said turned up crack cocaine, heroin/fentanyl, and more. Jonathan Pabon-Reyes, 33, was arrested on Jan. 17, 2025, when officers from multiple law enforcement units executed a search and seizure warrant at 461 West Main Street, Apartment #8, police said.  Units involved included the Waterbury Police Department’s Vice and Intelligence Unit, Crime Prevention Unit, Gang Task Force, Connecticut State Police Violent Crime Task Force, and Auto Theft Unit. Inside …
Driver Found Asleep on I-95 With Fentanyl, Pistol In Car Attacks Nurse After CT Bust: Police Driver Found Asleep on I-95 With Fentanyl, Pistol In Car Attacks Nurse After CT Bust: Police
Driver Found Asleep on I-95 With Fentanyl, Pistol In Car Attacks Nurse After CT Bust: Police A Rhode Island man faces multiple charges after a series of events that began on I-95 and ended with an alleged attack on a nurse at a Connecticut hospital, police said. Joshua West, 34, of Warwick, Rhode Island, is charged with operating under the influence, illegal possession of a weapon, interfering with an officer, carrying a firearm while under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, breach of peace, and carrying a pistol without a permit, according to Connecticut State Police. The incident began when troopers responded to reports of a disabled vehicle near Exit 92 on I-95…
Ex-VA Nurse Who Stole Meds From Dying Patients In CT Will Avoid Jail Time: Feds Ex-VA Nurse Who Stole Meds From Dying Patients In CT Will Avoid Jail Time: Feds
Ex-VA Nurse Who Stole Meds From Dying Patients In CT Will Avoid Jail Time: Feds A former nurse at a Connecticut Veterans Administration hospital's intensive care unit who admitted to stealing medications from terminally ill patients will not serve prison time, authorities said. Tara Severino, 58, of West Haven, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of probation on Thursday, Dec. 19, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  Severino was a nurse at the West Haven VA Medical Center, where she stole pain medications like fentanyl and hydromorphone from patients under her care, according to prosecutors. She accomplished this in several ways, inclu…
Drunk, Wrong-Way Driver Arrested on I-84 Ramp In Smoking SUV With Fentanyl Inside: Police Drunk, Wrong-Way Driver Arrested on I-84 Ramp In Smoking SUV With Fentanyl Inside: Police
Drunk, Wrong-Way Driver Arrested on I-84 Ramp In Smoking SUV With Fentanyl Inside: Police A Connecticut man whose blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit was stopped while driving the wrong way on an I-84 off-ramp over the weekend, authorities said. Angel Sanabria, 44, of Hartford, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies and traffic violations after police stopped his SUV, which had heavy front-end damage with smoke billowing from the engine, and fluids leaking onto the road as if he'd been in a recent crash, Connecticut State Police said. Troopers received a wrong-way driver detection alert just after 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Governor Street o…
Low Prices, High Buyers: Police Bust Drug Ring Run Out Of CT Car Dealership, Feds Say Low Prices, High Buyers: Police Bust Drug Ring Run Out Of CT Car Dealership, Feds Say
Low Prices, High Buyers: Police Bust Drug Ring Run Out Of CT Car Dealership, Feds Say A federal investigation dismantled a drug trafficking operation allegedly run out of a Connecticut car dealership, leading to the arrest of 13 people on narcotics distribution charges, authorities said.  Investigators seized more than 10 pounds of cocaine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of heroin, seven firearms, $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles during searches of the Supreme Automotive dealership in New Britain and locations linked to those arrested, said the United States District Attorney for Connecticut.  The investigation, led by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Tas…
Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In CT High School Bathroom Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In CT High School Bathroom
Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In CT High School Bathroom Students at a Connecticut high school were sent home early on Friday, Nov. 15, after police found fentanyl on the bathroom floor, authorities said.  The school resource officer at Howell Cheney Technical High School in Manchester noticed a suspicious powdery substance in one of the bathrooms just after 10:30 a.m., Connecticut State Police said. A field test showed it was fentanyl.  Cheney Tech students, teachers, and faculty were dismissed early so the powerful and potentially dead drug could be cleaned and safely removed.  “There have been no reported incidents of exposure …
Drug Dealer From CT Nabbed After Fatal Overdose Gets Prison Time Drug Dealer From CT Nabbed After Fatal Overdose Gets Prison Time
Drug Dealer From CT Nabbed After Fatal Overdose Gets Prison Time A 30-year-old Connecticut man will spend several years in prison after he was caught selling a deadly heroin and fentanyl mixture following a fatal overdose in the Hudson Valley. New Haven County resident Brandon Gatling of Waterbury will serve six years in state prison after admitting to selling narcotics in Putnam County, Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy announced on Thursday, Sept. 12.  According to Tendy's office, Gatling was arrested on June 14, 2023, following an investigation into a fatal overdose conducted by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Enforce…
One Of CT's Largest Fentanyl Dealers Busted With 7 Kilograms, Police Say One Of CT's Largest Fentanyl Dealers Busted With 7 Kilograms, Police Say
One Of CT's Largest Fentanyl Dealers Busted With 7 Kilograms, Police Say One of the most significant alleged dealers in Connecticut was busted with more than seven kilograms of fentanyl following an investigation into drug sales in the city.  Miguel “Cuba” Rodriguez-Veloz, age 60, of Stamford, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 29, during a state-level search warrant on his Liberty Street apartment by the department's Narcotics & Organized Crime Unit. According to Stamford Police Assistant Chief Richard Conklin, Rodriguez-Veloz was taken into custody as he left his apartment, where he was found with 1.2 grams of cocaine, 2.9 grams of crack cocaine, an…
CT PD Officers Find 'Breaking Bad'-Themed Packages Of Heroin, Crack During Bust CT PD Officers Find 'Breaking Bad'-Themed Packages Of Heroin, Crack During Bust
CT PD Officers Find 'Breaking Bad'-Themed Packages Of Heroin, Crack During Bust A 42-year-old accused drug dealer in Fairfield County who wanted his product to stand out chose an image of one of the most famous methamphetamine makers in TV history on the packaging, authorities said.  Adrian Clack was arrested in Stamford on Wednesday, Aug. 21, after officers found a large amount of heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine on him, authorities said. Stamford Police Department investigators said they had learned that Clack was driving from Bridgeport to downtown Stamford to sell drugs.  On Wednesday, officers saw him in his car near the Bell Street parking gara…