Convicted Felon Found With Cocaine: Middletown Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A convicted felon currently on probation was arrested after police say he was found to be in the possession of cocaine Monday night in Middletown. At around 8 p.m. on Feb. 25, police were conducting surveillance in the area of the Peppermill Village Condominium complex on Burgundy Hill Lane after receiving complaints from residents regarding possible drug activity, according to the police report.

After witnessing an apparent drug transaction, police followed a 2020 Nissan Rogue that was leaving the parking lot and turning onto Westlake Drive toward East Street. Police said the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Marlon Hughes Jr., was talking on a cell phone as he drove past officers.

Police tried to stop the vehicle but Hughes continued driving onto East Street, according to the report. Police said the vehicle was moving back and forth in the travel lane and Hughes appeared to be moving around in the seat, which led officers to believe he was either “attempting to hide contraband and/or retrieve a weapon,” the report states.

Hughes then signaled and pulled into the River Centre Plaza on Berlin Road. Police deployed stop sticks in front of the Nissan and Hughes stopped the vehicle before driving over them. Police opened the unlocked door and ordered Hughes to get out.

Hughes demanded officers explain why they “tried” to stop him, police wrote in the report. He was handcuffed and police found several pieces of suspected crack cocaine on the front seat and driver’s side floor of the vehicle, according to police. Hughes had $43 in his pocket but no contraband was found on him, police said.

Police found a torn baggie outside of the vehicle that tested positive for the presence of cocaine. The vehicle was then searched and police found seven $100 bills in the overhead compartment. The vehicle was determined to be a rental but police couldn’t find a rental agreement and Hughes refused to say who rented the Nissan, according to the report.

The $743 seized from Hughes was determined to be “the proceeds of illegal narcotic sales,” police said. Hughes is a convicted felon currently on probation and has a pending case for an arrest on drug charges on Feb. 10 in Cromwell, according to police. He has previous convictions for possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell and probation violation.

Hughes, of South Main Street in Middletown, was arrested on charges of possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a restricted area, interfering with an officer, cell phone violation, improper lane change, operating with suspended license, failure to obey officer signal and engaging in pursuit. He was held on a $50,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court Feb. 26.