K-9 Sniffs Out Large Amount of Heroin, Cocaine: East Haven PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — A routine motor vehicle stop led to the arrest of three individuals after a large amount of narcotics was found within the vehicle they were operating, Police Lt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

At 3:48 p.m. Tuesday, police officer Kyle Savo initiated a motor vehicle stop on a 2012 Acura TL with dark tinted windows in the area of Main Street and Charter Oak Avenue, police said. While speaking with the driver, identified as Vincent Verderame, 35, officer Kevin McGuire and K-9 Ace arrived on scene to conduct an exterior sweep of the vehicle, police said. During the exterior sweep of the vehicle, K-9 Ace gave a positive indication of the presence of narcotics within the vehicle, police said.

Verderame and his passengers, identified as Danny Rodriguez, 30, and Taisha Franco, 22, were removed from the vehicle so officers could conduct a more thorough search of the vehicle’s interior, Murgo said.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery 1.5 ounces of suspected heroin, 1 ounce of suspected crack cocaine, 18 grams of suspected powder cocaine, 124 various pills including Alprazolam, and $6,000.00 in cash, Murgo said. The seized narcotics, which were packaged for re-sale have a street value of approximately $15,000-$20,000, he said. The 2012 Acura TL was also seized.

All three occupants of the vehicle were placed under arrest and transported to the East Haven Police Department for processing.

Vincent Verderame, 02/06/1983, Prospect Place, East Haven, CT was charged with:

· Possession of Narcotics

· Conspiracy / Possession of Narcotics

· Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell

· Conspiracy to Sell Narcotics

· Failure to Keep Narcotics in Original Container

· Conspiracy / Failure to Keep Narcotics in Original Container

· Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle w/o Tint Inspection

Danny Rodriguez, 06/20/1988, Pendleton Street, New Haven, CT was charged with:

· Possession of Narcotics

· Conspiracy / Possession of Narcotics

· Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell

· Conspiracy to Sell Narcotics

· Failure to Keep Narcotics in Original Container

· Conspiracy / Failure to Keep Narcotics in Original Container

Taisha Franco, 01/15/1996, Minor Road, East Haven, CT was charged with:

· Possession of Narcotics

· Conspiracy / Possession of Narcotics

· Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell

· Conspiracy to Sell Narcotics

· Failure to Keep Narcotics in Original Container

· Conspiracy / Failure to Keep Narcotics in Original Container

All three individuals were released on a $250,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5 in Superior Court, New Haven.

Photos via EH Police