A 32-year-old city woman and her 19-year-old boyfriend were charged with a slew of offenses after a narcotics sting yielded a large amount of crack in the apartment where two young children had easy access, according to police.
On March 7, the Middletown Police Street Crime Unit and Patrol Division served two warrants in the north end of the city, after discovering the occupants of two apartments were working together to sell crack cocaine and marijuana on the second floors of 24 Grand and 79 Spring Street.
Detectives had received complaints from numerous concerned citizens that reside in the area of the ongoing narcotic trafficking. The residence of 79 Spring St. is across the street from MacDonough Elementary School and 24 Grand St. is around the corner from St. John’s Elementary School.
Detectives have been investigating the address at 79 Spring St. since January after Cashelle McLean, 32, left her kids at MacDonough School while she and her boyfriend Anthony Beckman, 19, of Hartford were in their residence smoking marijuana, according to the report. Detectives later learned that McLean and Beckman were selling crack cocaine and marijuana out of their home while McLean’s two children were home.
Detectives had also investigated the residence of 24 Grand Street, second floor, where Jason Miller, 42, lives, according to police. Throughout the investigation detectives observed Miller traveling to Spring St. in order to meet up with McLean and Beckman.
Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on Miller after he left McLean and Beckman’s residence on Spring St. Miller was found to be in possession of 3 bags of crack cocaine with an approximate weight of .6 grams. Also located in Millers residence was narcotic paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana.
Upon executing the search and seizure warrant at 79 Grand St. 2nd floor detectives located several parties. Mclean and Beckman were located inside of the residence along with two juveniles ages six and four.
Also found there were Cody Okarmus, 23, and Angelena Direnzo, 19, both of the Eddy Shelter in Middletown, who claimed to be the babysitters of the children, according to the report.
Neither could explain why they were there as “babysitters” while the children’s parent was present. McLean would only state that she just met Cody and Angelena on Main St, didn’t know their last names, and had allowed Angelena to baby-sit yesterday.
Inside of the residence Detectives located a piece of crack cocaine sitting on a kitchen table on top of the children’s clothing which was easily accessible to the two children.
Detectives also located a large amount of narcotics concealed within the buttocks and groin area of Beckman, the report indicates. Detectives removed one bag containing 23 crack cocaine rocks weighing 6.2 grams from Beckman’s buttocks. Detectives located three bags of marijuana each weighing 11.6, 7.1, and 4.2 grams all in the groin area of Beckman.
From Beckman’s left sock detectives located 11 more crack cocaine rocks weighing 6.6 grams. From Beckman’s right sock detectives located a razor blade along with several more crack cocaine rocks weighing 3.3 grams, the report says. Detectives later located another 8.1 grams of marijuana on Beckman back at Middletown Police Headquarters. $419.00 in US currency was also removed from Beckman.
In all, 16.8 grams of crack cocaine and 31 grams of marijuana were confiscated, police say.
Department of Children and Families is investigating and took custody of the children.
Beckman was arrested fand held on a $200,000 bond for: Possession of Crack Cocaine and with Intent to Sell, and with Intent to Sell within 1,500 feet of a School, Possession of less than 4 ounces of Marijuana and With Intent to Sell and With Intent to Sell within 1,500 feet of a School, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia within 1,500 feet of a School, Operating a Drug Factory, Criminal Attempt to Destroy Evidence, two counts Risk of Injury to a Minor.
McLean was arrested and held on a $100,000 bond for:Possession of Crack Cocaine and with Intent to Sell, and with Intent to Sell within 1,500 feet of a School, Operating a Drug Factory and two counts Risk of Injury to a Minor.
Miller was arrested and held on a $25,000 bond for:Possession of Crack Cocaine and with Intent to Sell, and with Intent to Sell within 1,500 feet of a School, Possession of Marijuana within 1,500 feet of a School and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia within 1,500 of a School.
Any citizens willing to give information concerning possible illegal activities are encouraged to contact Sgt. Rich Davis of the Street Crime Unit at (860) 344-3259. All information will remain anonymous.