Southington police make drug arrests

The Southington Police Department made several arrests for various drug charges, it was announced by the department July 3.

On June 26, Jamie Hamel, 26, a Southington resident, returned from Florida and surrendered herself at Southington police headquarters on two active arrest warrants issued by Bristol Superior Court.

The arrest warrants stem from a four-month-long nuisance abatement investigation into the trafficking of narcotics from within My Bar, located at 148 Center St., by the Southington Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team. Hamel, a bartender at My Bar, along with friend and co-worker David Vitale, also a My Bar employee, were trafficking cocaine within My Bar and the surrounding premises while working, according to police.

A $50,000 bond was set for Hamel with a court date of June 27.

On Feb. 29, at approximately 10 p.m., members of the Southington Police Department, Department of Consumer Protection Division of Liquor Control, Nuisance Abatement Unit from the Chief State's Attorney's Office and Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force, executed a court-authorized search and seizure warrant at My Bar.

As a result, one on-sight drug arrest was made inside the bar, a small amount of narcotics was seized along with liquor violations being found. Enforcement action followed by members of the Department of Consumer Protection Division of Liquor Control.

Also on Feb. 29, at about 9 p.m., a team of Southington police officers executed a court-authorized search and seizure warrant at 21 Stakey Farm Road, the home of David Vitale. The team was also in possession of eight narcotic-related arrest warrants for Vitale. The suspect was located inside the residence and was taken into custody without incident. As a result of the search warrant executed at the home, Vitale was also charged with possession of narcotics, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

My Bar has been closed since Feb. 29. This type of investigation is only one of many to follow, police said.

 On June 18, the police department narcotics enforcement team set up surveillance on the rear lower parking lot of Derynowski Elementary School, located at 240 Main St. A 17-year-old male was arrested and charged with possession of narcotics and interfering with an officer.

This particular area has been a problem during functions such as Concerts on the Green, school functions and during the Apple Harvest Festival, police said. Youths usually congregate in the lower parking lot and children's playground area which usually results in drug use and drinking, and the remnants left behind on the ground as well as assaults and other acts such as criminal mischief with regard to parked vehicles. Many parents are told by their children that they are attending a certain function downtown. In reality, they aren't attending these functions and are congregating in large groups, which usually leads to some type of altercation or mischief, according to police.

On June 18, upon police arriving in the area, approximately 60-plus youths were observed in the rear parking lot and playground area. The accused, another 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old female were observed smoking marijuana on the property of the school. Police personnel arrived on the scene and approached the group at which time the marijuana was flicked into woods. Upon patting down the one of the 17-year-old males, he began to resist and was taken into custody. Four bags of heroin were found on him, police said

The 17-year-old male was transported to the police department where he was processed, held on a $25,000 bond and arraigned the following day in Bristol Superior Court.

The 17-year-old male who was arrested, the other 17-year-old male and the 15-year-old female were all advised if they ever returned to Derynowski School property other then for a legitimate function they would be subject to arrest.

On May 27, members of the Southington Narcotics Enforcement Team initiated a motor vehicle stop on Gilbert Emond, 27, of 5 Old Turnpike Road, Southington. As a result of this motor vehicle stop, Emond was found in possession of narcotics and illegal anabolic steroids. He was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to keep a narcotic drug in original container.

Emond turned himself into police headquarters June 26 where he was processed and held on a $10,000 surety bond and was arraigned in Bristol Superior Court the same day. 

The police department will be giving a concentrated effort towards quality of life issues in certain areas around the town and addressing them on sight as they present themselves.