1 suspect in New Haven tainted drugs case appears in court
Feds charge New Haven man with distribution
NEW HAVEN — An advocate for the homeless has been charged in connection with the distribution of K2 in the city, just days after more than 100 overdoses, many of which took place on the Green.
Quentin “Q” Staggers, 47, of New Haven, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that charges him with conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of synthetic cannabinoids, or K2.
Tom Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut, said there is no “public information” connecting Staggers to distributing the tainted K2 and that the affidavit and search warrant are sealed.
Staggers, wearing a tan jumpsuit, appeared Tuesday in front of Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam for a detention hearing.
Margie Staggers, Staggers’ mother, said she found out Friday that her son had been arrested. She said she doesn’t know whether the allegations are true, but said people can’t believe everything they hear.
Merriam said Staggers was subject to a rebuttable presumption — he would detained unless his lawyer, Kelly M. Barrett, can “reasonably assure” the safety of any other person and the community if he is released.
Barrett said during the court proceeding that she had discussed several options with the probation office, but none were available at this time.
Barrett said Staggers has an extensive history of substance abuse and addiction and is looking into an in-patient treatment facility.
Merriam then ruled Staggers will be detained until Barrett can present evidence to such a facility, and then the matter can be readdressed.
As Staggers was placed back in handcuffs, he locked eyes with his mother and said, “Love ya, Mom.”
“I love you, too, sweetie. Behave yourself,” Margie Staggers said. “Absolutely,” he replied. Staggers is the third man arrested on charges related to K2 following last week’s more than 100 overdoses by 47 people on the city Green. Some of those who overdosed are homeless. Staggers was homeless for several years, living on the Green for a period of time.
He started advocating for better conditions and more opportunities for the homeless community — and in November 2017 participated in a march called Housing Not Jail, which demanded the decriminalization of homelessness and providing housing for all — and was to secure housing in October 2017 through a voucher system funded by the state Department of Housing, according to his testimony during a legislature’s Appropriations Committee hearing.
Felix Ayala Melendez, 37, and John Arthur Parker, 53, both of New Haven, have been arrested in connection with the K2 overdoses.
“Both Parker and Melendez have been identified by victims/ witnesses in the ongoing New Haven Green K2 overdose case. Both have been directly linked to the sale and/or distribution of K2 to some of those victims,” police spokesman Officer David Hartman said in a release.
Emergency personnel were strained during a 72-hour period as they responded to one emergency call after another last week.
City Office of Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana said things started to calm down about 10 p.m. Thursday, when the men allegedly responsible for the distribution of the tainted K2 were taken into custody.
A preliminary investigation revealed Melendez allegedly was responsible for distribution of the tainted K2. Police were aware he had an outstanding warrant alleging violation of probation for failure to complete substance abuse evaluation and treatment, according to an officer’s affidavit.
Officers headed to Melendez’s residence, and he was taken into custody without incident.
Additionally, an informant told police last Wednesday an individual known as JP was selling K2 on the Green.
From previous investigations, police knew John Parker, who had an active arrest warrant for allegedly selling K2 on the Green Feb. 26, used the moniker JP.
Officers went to the hotel where Parker was staying and subsequently arrested him.
Parker told investigators he had been selling K2 to “make enough money to pay for a hotel so he is not homeless.”