Crime & Safety
Multiple Overdose Deaths Lead to Arrest of 6 Men
Three people died from drug overdoses in the area recently. Six men, including one from Ledyard, were arrested on federal heroin charges.
Three people died from drug overdoses in New London County and six men were arrested on federal heroin charges.
Recently, nearly every week yields news of an opioid-related overdose somewhere in the state of Connecticut.
On April 13 in Middletown, police responded to four overdoses, one fatal. On April 16 in Groton, police responded to three overdoses in less than three hours. One overdose was fatal.
Find out what's happening in Ledyardfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On Friday, April 22, the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England released information on six men arrested on various federal heroin charges.
The charges stem from an on-going statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users, DEA Special Agent Michael J. Ferguson and U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly stated in a press release.
Find out what's happening in Ledyardfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Man in Groton Dies From Overdose; Ledyard and New London Men Arrested
On April 12, Groton Town Police responded to a report of a medical emergency involving a 25-year-old male.
The victim, who had used heroin and/or fentanyl, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The investigation included witness interviews and the review of cell phone records and text messages. Ferguson said the investigation revealed that the victim arranged to purchase heroin from Timothy Paprocki, 33, of Ledyard, and Rudy Hernandez, 43 of New London.
Paprocki allegedly bought heroin from Hernandez and distributed it to the victim.
On April 14, New London Police and other law enforcement conducted a search of Hernandez's residence and reportedly seized heroin, cocaine and multiple cell phones.
Paprocki and Hernandez were charged by federal complaint on April 20 and are detained.
18-Year-Old Dies From Heroin Overdose in Norwich
Norwich Police responded to a medical emergency at the residence of Jonathan Fisher, 35, of Norwich, on April 9.
"The emergency involved an 18-year-old male who had died from an apparent heroin overdose,” the statement read. “Fisher was not present at the time law enforcement had arrived. A search of the victim’s wallet revealed one used glassine baggy and 10 unopened baggies marked with a particular brand stamp.”
A field test of the substance in the bags yielded a positive presence for both heroin and fentanyl, according to Ferguson.
Approximately one month prior to the overdose death, Fisher was arrested by Norwich Police after he was allegedly found in possession of numerous bags of heroin that were marked with the same stamp.
On April 12, Norwich Police arrested Fisher at a Norwich hotel.
"A search of Fisher’s wallet contained two glassine baggies containing suspected heroin and marked with the same brand stamp,” Ferguson said. "A search of the hotel room where Fisher had been staying revealed more than 300 bags of heroin, prescription narcotics, more than one pound of marijuana, a digital scale and hundreds of empty glassine bags marked with the same stamp."
He was charged by federal complaint on April 20 and is detained.
Bridgeport Woman Dies After Overdose
On April 15, a 21-year-old female was found unresponsive at her Bridgeport residence and transported to the hospital.
"The victim has since been removed from life support and died,” Ferguson said. "Bridgeport Police recovered two baggies of suspected heroin packaged in glassine baggies from the bed next to where the victim was located.”
The bags were marked with a particular brand stamp. A cell phone seized from the victim revealed numerous calls and text messages between the victim and Jorge Morales, also known as “Capone,” 29, of Shelton, in the days leading up the victim’s overdose.
On April 15, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Morales, marked with the same brand stamp, said Ferguson.
Morales was charged by federal complaint on April 20 and is detained.
Hartford Men Arrested
Since February 2016, Hartford Police have been investigating the distribution of heroin marked with a particular brand stamp.
During the course of the investigation, there have been at least two overdose deaths to which heroin marked with the stamp has been linked, one in Vernon on February 1 and one in Granby on March 22.
Between February and April 2016, law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases of heroin, marked with a stamp allegedly traced to Daniel Gamero, 23, of Hartford, and Charlie Tacuri, 19, of Hartford.
Gamero and Tacuri were arrested on April 21, after a search of Gamero's Preston Street residence allegedly revealed hundreds of bags of heroin, marijuana and a firearm.
Gamero and Tacuri have been detained. U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
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