A man was arrested this week and accused of selling crack cocaine and fentanyl in Vernon.
Shawn Johnson, 41, was apprehended Monday and charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance (third offense) and a single count each of possession of paraphernalia, possession with intent to sell, criminal attempt to commit sale of a narcotic substance, interfering/resisting and tampering with evidence, according to Sgt. Joshua Eastwood of the East Central Narcotics Task Force.
Eastwood said task force members had been investigating Johnson for several months, identifying him as an alleged narcotics trafficker. Authorities believe he was selling crack cocaine and fentanyl in town, according to Eastwood.
Investigators carried out multiple search warrants when Johnson was arrested, Eastwood said without elaborating. The search warrants were executed by the narcotics task force in cooperation with Vernon Police Department Detective Division and the DEA Task Force, according to Eastwood.
Johnson was held on bonds totaling $800,000 and was expected to appear before a judge on Tuesday.
“The East Central Narcotics Taskforce, in cooperation with other municipal and federal law enforcement agencies, is interested in stopping illegal narcotics sales and use in the Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon and Glastonbury communities,” Eastwood said in a statement.
Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is asked by police to contact the East Central Narcotics Taskforce at 860-645-5548. Calls will remain confidential, Eastwood said.