State Police and Vernon Police Dog Unit Team Up for Drug Bust

TOLLAND, CT — State police and a Vernon police dog team snagged a man with drugs and brass knuckles in a weekend drug bust on the highway.

On Friday at 7:45 p.m., state police from from the Troop C barracks in Tolland were conducting a "pro-active enforcement" effort in the area of Route 195 — locally known as Merrow Road — and Interstate-84 in Tolland following several citizen complaints of narcotic activity in the area.

Troopers observed a red Volkswagen, with "an equipment violation," drive onto I-84 eastbound, according to a news release. Troopers conducted a motor vehicle traffic stop on the vehicle on I-84 near the rest area in Willington, according to a news release.

After speaking with the occupants, troopers determined that the vehicle contained narcotics and requested a detection dog, according to a news release.

A canine team from the Vernon Police Department responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation, state police said. Police dog Thor subsequently indicated there were narcotics in the vehicle, state police said.
State police said that through the course of the investigation, they located a set of brass knuckles, Suboxone sublingual strips, prescription Methadone and Oxycodone pills, and a "substantial" amount of cash in numerous denominations.

The Suboxone, Methadone and Oxycodone have an estimated street value of approximately $500, state police said.

The operator, Ryan Greenham, was taken into custody and transported to Troop C were he was fingerprinted, photographed and released on bond pending his court date.

A passenger in the vehicle was issued an infraction for being in possession of a small amount of marijuana and released at the scene.

Arrested was Ryan Greenham, 29 on charges that include:

• Possession of narcotics
• Possession of narcotics with the intent to sell
• Weapons in a vehicle
• Failure to display a front plate

He was being held on a $50,000 bond and is due in court on Oct. 18, state police said.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel; CSP