Norwich police arrest 16 in Operation GRINCH drug bust

Staff reports
Updated ·3 min read

Editor's Note: The case against Elson Canuto was disposed of with an unconditional discharge on Jan. 26, 2012.

Norwich police on Thursday arrested 16 people, many of them suspected drug traffickers, and seized amounts of crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana, a handgun and approximately $11,000 in cash, according to a statement released Thursday night.

Police said the arrests followed a four-month investigation targeting suspected drug traffickers and those with active felony warrants in the city.

At about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, members of the department's patrol and detective divisions launched what police called Operation GRINCH (Get Rid of Illegal Narcotics and Criminals for the Holidays).

The following were arrested and charged in the operation:

  • Darric T. Profit, 34, 154 Central Ave., Norwich, four counts of sale of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia; $350,000 bond; presented in Norwich Superior Court Dec. 22.

  • Anthony L. Flanders, 28, 46 School St., Norwich, three counts of sale of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia; $300,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Gerald Mosely, 35, 17 Autumn Way, Bozrah, eight counts of second-degree failure to appear; $30,700 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Kevin M. Dennehy, 47, 303 Mohegan Park Road, Lot 52, Norwich, two counts of sale of heroin, possession of heroin; $150,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • David B. Doster, 23, 109 Blue Hills Ave., Hartford, four counts of sale of crack cocaine; $200,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Jean E. Alegrand, 41, 27 Sixth St., Norwich, two counts of sale of crack cocaine; $150,000 bond; presented at Norwich Superior Court on Dec. 22.

  • Donald H. Drescher, 47, 160 Yantic Lane, Norwich, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver; $1,000 bond; presented at Norwich Superior Court Dec. 22.

  • Tyler J. Cote, 23, 160 Yantic Lane, Norwich, possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia; bond $10,000; court date Jan. 12 2012, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Amaris I. Brown, 23, 21 1/2 S. B St., Taftville, sale of cocaine, possession of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell; $150,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Malik J. Edwards, 36, 30 Forest St., Norwich, sale of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia; $100,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Kim T. Jackson, 37, 492 Norwich Ave., Norwich, three counts of sale of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia; $200,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Harold Butler, 34, 431 North Burnham Road, Lisbon, possession of crack cocaine, possession of over 1/2 gram of crack cocaine with intent to sell, driving with license suspended; $250,000 bond; court date Dec. 23, Norwich Superior Court. Butler was on parole at the time of his arrest and was remanded back to the custody of the state Department of Corrections.

  • Elson J. Canuto, 21, 57 Freeman Ave., Norwich, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, risk of injury to a minor; $10,000 bond; court date Dec. 29, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Shante C. Deandrade, 21, 57 Freeman Ave., Norwich, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, interfering with a search warrant, risk of injury to a minor; $10,000 bond; court date Jan. 5 2012, Norwich Superior Court.

  • Christopher T. Smith, 21, 70 Boswell Ave., Norwich, two counts of sale of crack cocaine; $150,000 bond; presented at Norwich Superior Court Dec. 22.

  • George W. Densmore, 43, 37, N. Cliff St., Norwich, first-degree failure to appear; $250,000 bond; presented at Norwich Superior Court Dec. 22.

The investigation is ongoing, and police anticipate further arrests. Norwich police ask anyone with information to call the department at (860) 886-5561 or the anonymous tip line at (860) 886-5561, Ext. 500.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich police arrest 16 in Operation GRINCH drug bust