Joint operation:
Norwich police help the FBI arrest an alleged Massachusetts heroin trafficker on federal narcotics charges.
POLICE: 3 INJURED AFTER FLEEING TRAFFIC STOP, THEN CRASHING
Norwich — Emergency crews on Sunday night had to extricate two people from a wrecked car that officers had been chasing, according to police.
In a news release, police said an officer first spotted the vehicle about 8 p.m., after its driver had committed “several motor vehicle violations.”
When the officer attempted to stop the car, police said, the driver increased speed and fled into Howard Brown Park. There, the vehicle struck the pursuing police cruiser and a parked car before heading north on Chelsea Harbor Drive and Washington Street. By that point, two other Norwich officers had begun following the car.
When the chase neared the intersection of Town and West Town streets, officers called it off because of the high rate of speed as well as traffic conditions, police said.
Not long afterward, Norwich dispatchers began receiving 911 calls reporting a crash on West Town Street near the ramp to Interstate 395 north. The wrecked vehicle, police said, was the same one that had been involved in the chase.
A driver and two passengers remained in the smashed-up car when emergency personnel arrived. An officer helped remove one of the passengers, but members of the Yantic Fire Department and American Ambulance had to extricate the driver and the other passenger.
Police said crews took all three to The William W. Backus Hospital with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.
Police continue to investigate the crash. Any witnesses are asked to call Sgt. Thomas Lazzaro at (860) 886-5561.
GROTON TOWN POLICE CHARGE MAN WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN
Groton — Town police, along with the Regional Community Enhancement Task Force, said they arrested a New London man on May 16 and seized a Smith & Wesson Sigma .40 caliber pistol with a high-capacity magazine from him.
Jesus M. Vazquez, of 37 Mahan St., New London, was charged with possession of a pistol without a permit, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, according to police.
Norwich police, FBI arrest alleged heroin trafficker
City police said they assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in arresting an alleged Massachusetts heroin trafficker on federal narcotics charges last week.
POLICE SEIZE DRUGS FROM NEW LONDON APARTMENT
New London — Police arrested a New London man Thursday after they confiscated cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and Suboxone from his apartment.
Police charged Anthony Whitley, 32, also known as “Flea,” of 78 West St., Apt. 1B, with two counts of possession of narcotics, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, and possession of a restricted substance. He was released on bond.
The State Police’s Statewide Narcotics Task Force-East and the New London Police Department’s VICE and Intelligence Unit executed a narcotics search warrant at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the police report. They seized about 33.9 grams of cocaine, 46.3 grams of crack cocaine and 17.9 grams of heroin along with 16 strips of Suboxone, and $2,721 from the apartment.
Police ask anyone with information regarding narcotics to call the city police department’s narcotics hotline at (860) 447-9107. Anonymous information can be submitted via the New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip plus the information to Tip411 (847411).
NORWICH POLICE HELP FBI ARREST SUSPECTED HEROIN TRAFFICKER
Norwich — City police said they assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in arresting an alleged Massachusetts heroin trafficker on federal narcotics charges last week.
During the arrest last Monday on Joseph Street, Elias Escarraman, 34, of Worcester, Mass., discarded 2,000 bags of heroin and tried to run away, police said.
Police officers and federal agents “quickly subdued” and arrested him, according to the police report. He was later presented at the U.S. District Court in Hartford, according to police.
The Norwich Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, Detective Division, and Patrol Division assisted the FBI.
“The arrest was a result of an extensive and cooperative investigation, by the Norwich Police Department Detective/ Narcotics Division and the FBI, into the trafficking of significant amounts of heroin in Connecticut and Massachusetts,” police said in the report.
Escarraman was on supervised release for a 2014 narcotics arrest in which Lowell, Mass., police found Escarraman to be in possession of more than a kilogram of cocaine and $87,000 after a traffic stop.
Norwich police encouraged residents to report suspicious activities to the Norwich Police Department (860) 886-5561, ext. 6, or the department’s Anonymous Tip Line at (860) 886-5561, ext. 4. All information can be kept confidential. Police also encouraged residents with narcotics-related information to call Narcotics Detectives at (860) 886-5561, extensions 3151 or 3152.
OLD SAYBROOK POLICE ANNOUNCE CHECKPOINTS
Old Saybrook — Police have announced that they began conducting seatbelt and traffic safety checkpoints beginning on Monday.
The checkpoints are in conjunction with the state Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administrations’ Memorial Day Holiday traffic safety initiative, police said.
Police said they will also conduct a sobriety checkpoint, beginning on Friday.