Charges Filed In January State Police Drug Seizure In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A man state police listed in a warrant as a familiar drug dealer is now facing several charges after being arrested late last week

Late last week, state police arrested 28-year-old Anthony Braica on a warrant issued by Rockville Superior Court. He was charged with first-degree forgery, interfering with police, criminal impersonation, possession of a controlled substance and the sale of a narcotic substance, according to a warrant.

He is "well-known to law enforcement in the Vernon area and is known to carry firearms and drugs," and was already in custody on other matters, a warrant states.

The Vernon case can be traced back to January 2022, when a state trooper observed a white Acura TL pull off Interstate 84 eastbound at Exit 67 and turn north onto Reservoir Road, according to a warrant. The window tint on the vehicle was "much darker than the legally allowed 35 percent" and no tint inspection sticker was visible, according to a warrant.

The Acura pulled over in a shopping plaza on East Street in Vernon and a trooper noticed the driver was wearing a full-faced balaclava, according to a warrant. He then produced identification, according to a warrant.

Narcotics-related paraphernalia was located in the car. Vernon police also arrived at the scene, according to a warrant. Cocaine (4 grams), crack cocaine (5 grams), were located in the vehicle, according to a warrant.

A dozen Ecstasy pills were also located, state police said.

Then, state police noticed the driver is custody did not match the photo on the Department of Motor Vehicles ID given to troopers, according to a warrant and fingerprints showed that man was Braica, according to a warrant. The man on the ID said he knew Braica, state police said.