Armed Man Held On $1M Bond After Big Drug Bust: Naugatuck Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — Devon Maurice Abney, 27, of Virginia Avenue in Waterbury, is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond after police say he was involved in a drug transaction on Maple Street near South Main Street, Naugatuck Police said. Abney, who was armed, initially fled the scene but was later arrested with the help of a police K-9 team, Naugatuck police said.

Police seized two sandwich bags containing 11.1 grams of suspected crack cocaine, approximately 184 glassine baggies containing white power substance (suspected heroin), two sandwich bags containing green plant like substance (suspected Marijuana), two (illegal) high capacity 9mm magazines, 6 glassine baggies containing white powder substance (suspected heroin), and $2,320 in cash, police said.

Police also found a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson Handgun (with a 30 round extended magazine) adjacent to the Naugatuck River, which the accused admitted to tossing as he fled from police, police said.

The incident all began at 9:30 p.m. Thursday when Officer John Williams came across a black 2019 Mazda CX5 he believed to have been involved in a drug transaction on Maple Street near South Main Street, police said.

The car pulled away heading onto Route 8 South. The officer saw the vehicle flee southbound on Route 8 and traveled to Beacon Falls/Exit 24, police said. The officer again saw this same suspect vehicle parked in the middle of the travel lane of the entrance ramp (24) to Route 8 North.

The officer pulled behind the vehicle and saw the suspect seated in the car. The officer exited his cruiser and began giving commands for the man to exit the vehicle, police said. The operator quickly exited the vehicle holding a handgun, police said.

The suspect turned toward the officer, then fled into the woods with the weapon in hand, police said. The officer maintained his position while additional officers from Naugatuck, Beacon Falls and Connecticut State Police responded.

K9 units from Naugatuck and State Police both responded. Upon searching, Naugatuck Police Officer Ian Kosky and his canine partner Vane quickly tracked to the suspect who was located in the vicinity of the exit ramp, police said. The suspect was taken into custody, police said.

The handgun wasn't found initially but the suspect admitting to police he had thrown it while fleeing, police said. Police found the gun Friday morning.

"This incident highlights the challenges and dangers police officers and the public face, especially when an illegal firearm is used during the course of a criminal endeavor. The Naugatuck Police would like to commend the actions of all our personnel involved in this incident for bringing this incident to safe conclusion and making our community safer with the removal of opioids and an illegal firearm from our streets. The Naugatuck Police would also like to extend our thanks to our regional partners at the Beacon Falls Police and The Connecticut State Police for their assistance during this incident," Naugatuck Police said in a news release.

Abney is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon, interfering with an officer, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of narcotic, sale of certain illegal drugs, and reckless driving.