Early morning raids last week at homes in Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton resulted in the arrests of five people on drug and weapons charges, according to Ansonia police — and more arrests are expected.
Police say they believe the group is responsible for selling cocaine and heroin throughout the lower Naugatuck Valley.
Ansonia Police Lt. Wayne Williams said in a prepared statement Tuesday afternoon that police executed search warrants at the following addresses July 2 at 6 a.m.:
- 18 Howard Ave., Ansonia, where Ansonia Police arrested Lester Arrington on seven warrants they held charging him with seven counts of possession of narcotics and five counts each of conspiracy to possess narcotics and conspiracy to sell narcotics.
- 43 Anson St., Derby, where Antonio Torres arrested after police found five guns — an assault weapon, a 9 mm handgun, two shotguns, and a rifle — in the residence. He was charged by Derby police with altering or removing identification marks on a firearm, illegal possession of an assault weapon, criminally negligent storage of a firearm, criminal possession of a pistol/revolver and risk of injury to a minor.
- 28 Kneen St., Shelton, where Roberto Cales was charged by Ansonia police on warrants charging him with two counts each of possession of narcotics, sale of narcotics, conspiracy to possess narcotics and conspiracy to sell narcotics. He was also charged by Shelton police with two counts each of possession of narcotics and sale of narcotics.
- 24 Brook St., Shelton, where Jennifer Hansberry and John Richard were arrested by Shelton police on charges of possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia after drugs and paraphernalia were found at the residence.
A fifth search warrant, for 7 Melbourne St. in Naugatuck, was served later in the day July 2 that resulted in the seizure of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and packaging materials.
Another man, Reginald Rogers, was also arrested by Ansonia police July 6 in connection with the drug investigation and charged with five counts each of possession of narcotics, sale of narcotics, conspiracy to possess narcotics and conspiracy to sell narcotics.
“The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected,” Williams said in the statement.
Williams told the Valley Indy Tuesday afternoon that the raids were part of a lengthy drug investigation.
“It’s surveillance, narcotics buys, undercover buys, et cetera,” Williams said.
Williams said those arrested last week weren’t in the same organization police cracked down on last June with a flurry of raids.
“This group is not connected, but they operate very similarly,” Williams said. “I think it’s a group of people who have collaborated to go into the business of drug sales in the Valley.”
Of those charged in the probe thus far, all are free after posting bonds.
Arrington, Cales, Hansberry, and Richard are due at Superior Court in Derby July 16. Torres is due at Superior Court in Derby Thursday (July 11). Rogers is scheduled to appear July 19.
In his statement, Williams said Ansonia police are investigating the case with assistance from the Shelton, Derby, Hamden and Naugatuck police departments and the New Haven DEA office.
