Overlapping Arrests Made In Vernon Shooting, Narcotics Cases

VERNON, CT — A Shooting and a drug distribution case, both in the Rockville section of Vernon, have now overlapped.

On Dec. 2, members of the East Central Narcotics Task Force and Vernon Police Department detectives served 21-year-old Julio Mulero with a warrant charging him with hindering prosecution in relation to an August shooting on Prospect Street in Rockville.

The shooting took place on Aug. 27. While responding to a reported disturbance, Vernon police found a boy who had head injuries after being pistol-whipped by two men, case records show. According to a report, one of the men pointed a pistol at the victim's face and fired one shot. The victim deflected the firearm to avoid getting shot, police said.

Jakwai Sosa, 21, and 18-year-old Trenton Merrill, of 157 Union St., were identified as suspects and eventually taken custody.

See more on the arrests here.

Drugs were also located at the home, police said.

According to a report, Mularo was located in a vehicle operated by 21-year-old Dakota Lopez, who was arrested with him in a September drug sting by the task force. See the details on the case here.

While taking Mulero into custody for the hindering charge, ECNTF investigators discovered Lopez was again in possession of narcotics, according to a report. Lopez had on him approximately 30 individually packaged bags of cocaine and $1,100 in cash.

Lopez was taken into custody and charged with possession of controlled substance and possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to a report.