Man Arrested In Early Morning Drug Raid: Stamford Police

STAMFORD, CT — Police arrested a 31-year-old Stamford man during an early morning raid at his residence on Friday.

According to Capt. Richard Conklin of the Stamford Police Department, Travarius Howard was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. at his apartment located at 190 W. Main Street after narcotics and the organized crime squad, along with the department's Special Response Team (SRT) and uniformed division, conducted a weeks long investigation into Howard.

Police had received information and complaints from the community that Howard was selling drugs in the area. During the raid, Conklin said, police seized 50 bags of crack cocaine — three of which were packaged in smaller 1/8 sized bags. Police also seized $4,596 in cash, and 23 .38 caliber rounds.

Howard was charged with possession of marijauna, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, threatening in the first degree, and interfering with the police.

"He became very abusive and threatening to all the officers at the scene, stating that when he got out, he was going to track them down and kill them," Conklin said, adding that Howard admitted to owning firearms but they were not located in the residence.

Howard was also charged with three counts of risking injury to a minor, as there were three children in the apartment at the time along with his wife, Tiffany Howard. She was also arrested and charged with conspiracy of possession of narcotics, conspiracy with intent to sell, and risking injury to minors.

The children's grandmother came to take custody of the kids, Conklin said, noting that Tiffany Howard played a lesser role in the crimes. She was released on a written promise to appear at a future court date. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) was contacted, and they will follow up on the safety and living conditions for the three children, Conklin said.

Travarius Howard, a member of the Bloods gang, has an extensive criminal history.

According to Conklin, in Connecticut, Howard was sentenced to prison for six years for burglary in the second degree, but his time was suspended after four.

In previous years down in Florida, Howard racked up multiple charges related to armed robbery, possession of cocaine, and grand theft of motor vehicles. He was convicted of resisting police with violence, battery on law enforcement, illegal possession of a firearm, multiple failure to appears, and possession of marijuana.

Because of his prior criminal history, gang affiliation and threats to officers this morning, Howard's bond was set at $500,000. He remains in custody.

Conklin said the community information and feedback that led to this investigation was critical.

"This is a very good case by narcotics and organized crime, assisted by SRT this morning," Conklin said. "When you have the community complaining or giving us information that people are buying drugs, using drugs out in the open and congregating in that area, we definitely want to act quickly on that and help alleviate this problem," he said.