Norwalk man charged in fatal drug overdoses
STAMFORD — A Norwalk man was arrested Wednesday in connection to a 2020 triple fatal overdose in Stamford caused by fentanyl-laced cocaine.
Xavier Flores, 38, was charged with three counts of first-degree manslaughter, seven counts of sale of narcotics and conspiracy to sell narcotics and a single count of failure to comply with fingerprinting.
Flores was arrested after a brief struggle with police officers which came on the heels of a multiday surveillance operation outside of his Norwalk home, Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said.
Following the arrest, Flores was transported back to the Stamford Police Department where he was asked to cooperate in the booking process.
“Flores refused and stated ‘I have 40 years to do that,'” Conklin said.
The arrest was the result of an “intense” 21-month investigation into a July 2020 incident, according to Conklin.
On July 16, 2020, police responded to reports of three unresponsive occupants in a blue Toyota Rav4 parked near St. Benedict Circle and Dale Street in Stamford. Firefighters and medics, who also responded to the scene, used multiple doses of Narcan to try and revive the occupants.
Ultimately, two of the occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The third occupant was rushed to Stamford Hospital where he later died.
Conklin said the investigation into the triple fatal overdose, which included the DEA, the Norwalk Police Department and the States Attorney's Office, included numerous undercover purchases of fentanyl and numerous search warrants.
In particular, Conklin pointed out the work of the Stamford Narcotics and Organized Crime
Unit's lead investigators Michael Spinosa, Conor Canning and Steven Orgera for “the countless hours and hard work put into this complex and important case.
“In closing, this case illustrates the danger of fentanyl. Fentanyl is responsible for the majority of our overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal. In this case, the victims were in the belief that they were purchasing cocaine,” Conklin said.
Flores was held in lieu of a $4,000,500 bond. He was arraigned in Superior Court in Stamford on Thursday.
He is next expected to appear in court on May 16.