TORRINGTON, Conn. (WTIC) - Torrington Police have made a pair of arrests involving narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
The first involved Officers observing a vehicle traveling north on Winsted Road with only one headlamp illuminated on Saturday. Officers also observed the vehicle swerving in and out of the travel lane and performed a stop.
The operator of the vehicle, identified as 24-year old Todd Decato, informed police he had pending drug and weapons charges. For safety reasons Decato was patted down and checked for weapons.
During the weapons check, Officers found over two ounces of powder cocaine. The cocaine was packaged in numerous individual baggies consistent with packaging for sale. A search of the vehicle identified a small digital scale as well.
Decato was placed into custody and charged with several offenses including Possession with Intent to Sell Narcotics and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He is being held on a $100,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Torrington Court on Monday, March 3rd.
Meanwhile, Torrington Police issued an arrest warrant for Daniel Rivera, of Waterbury, and charged him with two counts of Sale of Narcotics after a lengthy investigation into narcotics being sold throughout the City of Torrington for several months.
Members of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force, Torrington PD Patrol and the Torrington Narcotics Unit worked together to apprehend Rivera and on Friday at 10:30 a.m., Rivera was seen at the Bank of America parking lot in Torrington.
When officers approached his vehicle, Rivera put his vehicle in reverse, climbed a snow bank and then drove away fleeing officers at a high rate of speed through the parking lot. Police say he was headed towards South Main Street and narrowly struck one of the members of Torrington's Narcotics Unit with his vehicle, as the officer had to jump out of the way at the last second.
After several hours searching the Waterbury area, Rivera was later taken into custody in Waterbury at his residence. He was returned to Torrington Police Headquarters and booked with Sale of Narcotics (two counts), Criminal Attempt to Commit Assault on a Police Officer, Reckless Endangerment, Interfering with an Officer, Destruction of Property and Reckless Driving.
Rivera is currently being held on a total bond of $1,000,000 ($500,000 for each case.)
