Police Nab Couple On Multiple Drug Charges At Newtown Gas Station

NEWTOWN, CT — Police stumbled upon a fugitive from a Waterbury halfway house at a gas station in Newtown.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, at around 1:45 a.m., Newtown Police spotted a vehicle at the Wheels Gas Station on Church Hill Road registered to a driver with an active warrant for her arrest.

Further investigation determined that a passenger in the vehicle was a parole fugitive who had fled a halfway house in Waterbury.

Police found both to be in possession of crack cocaine, fentanyl, and suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, according to their report.

Police charged Tina Franqueira, 36, of New Fairfield, in connection with the warrant for second-degree failure to appear, possession of narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was held on $20,000 bond.

Police charged Shawn Pennywell, 44, of Waterbury, with possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held without bond to be taken back into custody for violating his parole.

Both Franqueira and Pennywell were scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court later in the day.