An Ansonia man allegedly shot by his father in January is facing drug dealing and assault charges.
Drug Charges
Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch said in a prepared statement that police obtained a search warrant of the man’s Central Avenue home in connection to the Jan. 17 shooting.
Police said 23-year-old Dustin Softleigh was shot by his father Dennis after an argument in the home.
When searching the apartment cops found “cocaine, marijuana, drug packaging material and equipment,” Lynch said.
As a result, they obtained an arrest warrant charging Dustin Softleigh with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent within 1,500 feet of a school, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Assault Case
The shooting investigation resulted in Dustin Softleigh being identified as a suspect in an earlier assault case, Lynch said.
About noon Jan. 12, police received a complaint of a fight at the intersection of Root Avenue and Hill Street.
“First responding officers found two victims at the scene, a 28-year-old female who was five months pregnant and a 28-year-old male,” Lynch said. “A male they knew only by the first name Dustin assaulted both victims.”
The pair sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
“During an unrelated investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Dustin Softleigh,” Lynch said. “With Softleigh identified, Off. John Fitzgerald applied for an arrest warrant.”
Fitzgerald obtained an arrest warrant charging Softleigh with assaulting a pregnant person, third-degree assault, and second-degree breach of peace.
Lynch said Softleigh was arraigned at Superior Court in Derby and has been released after posting bonds totaling $10,000 in the two cases.
Softleigh is scheduled to return to court March 20.
