The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
After bust, cops want to nab ‘bigger fish’ in fentanyl trade
TORRINGTON — The seizure of fentanyl by city police recently is one of the largest quantities of the synthetic opioid to be confiscated in the department’s history.
“I’ve never heard of such a [seizure] of 400 bags” of fentanyl, said Torrington Police Detective Kevin L. Tieman.
He said the hiring in December of Police Chief William Baldwin has “provided more insight. It’s going to be statewide,” for the depth of narcotics investigations.
Baldwin, who was a state trooper for decades, was assigned to the state’s Major Crimes Squad for much of his tenure.
The investigation into the sale and distribution of fentanyl seized on Feb 1 is ongoing, Baldwin said on Wednesday.
“We want to catch the suppliers, the bigger fish,” he said.
When he was appointed police chief, Baldwin said one of his main goals was to “confront the opioid epidemic.” He said the department is providing the resources the narcotics squad needs.
“We want to make sure we include state and federal partners,” Baldwin said.
He added, however, that the recent arrest of Hansel Schneider, 53, of Red Mountain Avenue, for possession of 400 bags of fentanyl with intent to sell, was just one of the recent “major busts
accomplished solely through the police narcotics division ... supported by detectives.”
An additional component of successful investigations, Baldwin said, are “the IDs from the public who tell us of suspicious activity.”
“It’s good old police work,” he said.
Schneider’s arrest came after several months of investigation, Tieman said in a statement. Schneider is also charged with possession of fentanyl in a school zone.
He was arraigned on Feb 11 at Superior Court in Torrington and released on a $5,000 non-surety bond. His next court date has not yet been scheduled.
Baldwin has said that drug dependency can fuel “criminal-related issues.”
“A lot of the crime in Torrington right now is based on drug dependency. A lot of these people have substance abuse problems,” the chief has said.
He also has raised concerns about the possibility of marijuana being legalized in the state.
“We’re in for big trouble,” he has said. “We’re sending a bad message to our kids. If the kids are our future, and they’re having trouble with drugs and alcohol, we’re opening another door. People say (marijuana is) harmless . ... I don’t care what these people say. Most law enforcement is against it.”
The Litchfield County Opioid Task Force reports that in the first half of 2018, there were 38 fatal overdoses in the county. In all of 2017, there were 54.
In a recent presentation to the Northwest Hills Council of Governments, Lauren M. Pristo, network coordinator for the task force, said the United States spends nearly $468 billion a year on addiction, but only 2 cents of every dollar is used for prevention or treatment.
“One dollar toward treatment equals $4 to $7 of savings,” by reducing drug-related crimes and theft, Pristo noted.
“It’s sad how stricken [users] become with fentanyl,” Baldwin said. “The biggest problem with the average addict is they don’t know what they’re getting. Sometimes is just pure (synthetic opioid). There is no quality control. The FDA isn’t testing it.”
“A lot of the crime in Torrington right now is based on drug dependency.”
Torrington Police Chief William Baldwin