Jack “YS” Wessells, 32, of Bond Avenue, Bridgeport. Contributed photo
DANBURY — Investigators targeting a drug dealer on George Street discovered another man conducting illegal drug deals in the city on Wednesday, police said.
Members of the police department’s Special Investigations Division executed search and seizure warrants for Jack “YS” Wessells, his car and an apartment he was using on George Street, authorities said in a news release Thursday.
The warrants were issued after a weeks-long investigation in response to citizen complaints about the man’s illegal drug deals throughout the Danbury area, police said.
At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, police seized Wessells’ car after he parked on Aaron Samuels Boulevard to sell drugs to another man, according to the release. Police said they searched the two men and their cars and found that both had packaged crack cocaine.
After taking the pair into custody, investigators went to the George Street apartment and found more drugs and drug paraphernalia, police said.
Wessells, 32, of Bond Avenue, Bridgeport, was charged with possession of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell, sale of crack cocaine, sale of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet from a school, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet from a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession a controlled substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bond.
His buyer – Mark Medrano, 54, of Shoreview Lane, Danbury – was charged with possession of crack cocaine and was released on a promise to appear in court.
Todd Cooper, 22, of Boardman Terrace, New Milford. Contributed photo
While conducting surveillance of George and Orchard streets before arresting Wessells, police said they noticed a car acting “suspiciously” in the area.
The driver, 22-year-old Todd Cooper, parked on George Street in the same manner police had seen other drivers park when they stopped to buy drugs, according to the release. A buyer then approached Cooper, got into his car and they drove away from the area, police said.
As their behavior was similar with past drug activities, detectives decided to follow the car. Police lost sight of the car, but right after searching Wessells’ apartment later that afternoon, they saw Cooper park on George Street again, police said.
When investigators approached the car, they smelled and saw marijuana in the vehicle, according to the release. After a short investigation, police said they learned Cooper had marijuana and other contraband packaged for sale.
Cooper, of Boardman Terrace, New Milford, was charged with possession of more than half an ounce of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of drug paraphernalia within 1,500 feet of a school. He posted a $500 bond.
His passenger, Darin Sheppard, received an infraction for possession of a controlled substance.