Marijuana Arrest Report

MERIDEN POLICE DEPARTMENT CASE I INCIDENT REPORT

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICE

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COMPLAINT NO.

10':'16581

on' 10/13/10 at approximately 1200 hours, Officer Degumbia from the Meriden Police Department was working a private duty assignment with acotnpany' named New England' Pipe Cleaning Company.. This was in the area of Springdale Avenue at the 200 block of the Street.

This company was in the sewer system under the street fixing clogs in the main sewer line that services Springdale Avenue. Each residence on Springdale Avenue has its own service drain pipe which leads from the residence to this main larger sewer pipe in the street. That pipe then flushes the waste out through the sewer system.

While one of their employees was in the pipe assessing the clogs and the objects within the pipe one of the residences on the street flushed its toilet and a large amount of water came rushing down the Main pipe. The employee identified as

noticed that with

the rushing water came a large amount of plant leaves. He also noticed that these plant leaves appeared to be the leaves from a marijuana plant. He then notified Officer Degumbia and showed this to him. Officer Degumbia confirmed that based on his training and experience, the plant leafs that had just been flushed into the main sewer line appeared to be: marijuana leaves; .Marijuana leaves are easily identified by their pointy jagged leaves which are always in an odd number pattern and symmetrical, with 'one pointy leaf in the center. Marijuana leaves are discarded because they are not the part of the plant which is smoked. While they contain THC (the active drug in marijuana which gives a person the "high") they only contain a small amount and the flower or "bud" of the plant is saved to smoke. Persons who cultivate their own marijuana throw the leaves out after they harvest the plant and only keep the buds, to smoke and sell. Officer Degumbia then contacted me to investigate.

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I then met with Officer Degumbia and observed the scene. It consisted of a man hole opened in the area of Sringdale Avenue and Ames

Avenue. By looking into the manhole, I observed numerous leaves on the bottom which all appeared to be marijuana leaves. I then asked he could retrieve a leafand he did. I then tested a representative sample of the suspected marijuana (Item 1) using a

NARCOPOUCH 908 test kit system. This gave a positive indication for marijuana. I have been trained in the use of this test kit system and have used it numerous times in the past with the results being confirmed by the Sate Tox. Lab.

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COMPLAINT NO.

10-16581 This established that the large amount of plant leaves flushed into the main sewer pipe were in fcictmarijuana.'

~hen explained tomethat while they did not see exactly where the marijuana was flushed from,they narrowed down the area in whfch it ca~e from. They were there to service the main sewer line for clogs, and blockages. A large blockage was in that main sewer line just past the service for #246 Springdale Avenue. They then sent a rolling, radio controlled camera down the manhole and up the pipe.

This camera is radio controlled and can be driven inside the PiPe._drove it up the pipe and I had a clear view of the inside of the maih sewer pipe. Onc~got to the area of 246 Springdale, a marijuana leaf was observed in the pipe stuck to the side of the pipe. It was stucktothe inside of the main pipe just after the service dump for that residence. After that area, was where the clog in the pipe was and no marijuana leaves were caught in the clog. If they were flushed from a residence further up the pipe, there would have been leaves stuck in the clog, although there were not. The leaf that was. stuck to the wall of the pipe was right after the service dump for 246 ,

Springdale Avenue, and no other service dumps were in this area. This proves that there was no other residence other than 246 Springdale Avenue that would have been able to flush objects and have them end up in the area of the pipe where the marijuana leaf was sticking to the

~ide of the ~all.

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was able to photograph this with his camera also and printout a copy of it for me (Item 2). The camera also

showed an exact footage (distance) of the service dump the leaf was next to, from the man hole location. The camera reported the marijuana leaf and service dump at 139 feet from the man hole. ~ then walked with a measuring wheel from the manhole cover 139 feet in the direction where the camera was under ground. One hundred thirty nine feet showed to be right in front of 246 Springdale Avenue. While

~ was doing this two white males were in the driveway of 246 Springd~le

Avenue speaking to each other.

While I was investigating this further, one of the males who had been in the driveway of 246 Springdale Avenue walked o~t of the driveway and down ,Springdale Ave. Members of the

~eriden

Police Crime Suppression unit (CSU), followed him to the area of Springdale

Avenue and Maple Street where we exited our undercover vehicles and confronted him. I wanted to speak with him to interview him about ,

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the plants possibly being flushed from the residence he had just left thinking that he may reside at that residence.

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COMPLAINT NO,

. 10-i6581 , Detective I

Willi~ms asked the male if CSU members could speak with him and he stated yes. Because he' had just left a residence suspected

~f being involved in narcotics activity, CSU members conducted a Terry Pat Down for safety. While doing so a large bulge was observed in

the pant pocket of this male. Detective Williams asked this male identified as Stephen Mattesini, what the bulge was. Stephen stated, "Its .

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just a little weed". It was then recovered (Item 3) and Stephen was placed under arrest. I then asked him where he lived and Stephen

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replied that he lived on East Main Street. I then asked where he was coming from and he stated that he was at a house on Springdale

I Avenue to get the marijuana. He was then placed in the rear of a MPD cruiser and transported to headquarters.

CSU members then went back to 246 Springdale Avenue to interview the other male who had been standing in the driveway with Stephen

I because it appeared as if this residence was being used for the sales of marijuana at this point. When CSU members walked down the driveway, the other white male was not observed. CSU members walked behind the residence and from the back yard an open door into

I the basement was observed. An overwhelming odor o'f marijuana was also

eman~ting

from in and around the back of the residence. This is

very common when entering a marijuana grow operation. CSU members could see in the basement from the open door and observed the other white male who had been preViously in the driveway, standing there inside.. It appeared that he was holding a shovel and digging in .

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the floor of the basement. This is also common to see when dealing with marijuana grow operations. At this point, it was highly suspected that this residence the residence responsible for the marijuana in the sewer. It was also suspected that the marijuana that was recovered .

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from Stephen Mattesini came from this residence. And that since he had been previously seen speaking with the male who CSU members .

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where now confronted with, that he purchased the marijuana from that very individual. With him seeing us and noticing our badges, and .

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Police identifying markings there was a possibility that he was going to flee, or possibly destroy evidence should there be any in that basement. Detective Williams then stated, drop the shovel, and put your hands on your head. This male did not comply and began to .

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nioveabout in the basement. Not knowing his intentions, and knowing the possibility of evidence being destroyed was at risk, CSU

members then entered the basement, and handcuffed the male.

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CONTINUATION PAGE

COMPLAINT NO.

10-16581 . .

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Ithen informed this male that he was not under arrest at that point, although being handcuffed for his non compliance and Office Saftey.

That CSU members suspected him of cultivating marijuana, at that location, and suspected he had just sold marijuana to a person who had just left his residence. Affiant Cerejo then informed him about the investigation involving the sewer employees, and the arrest of Stephen Mattesini. The male identified as Robert Alcott, then stated, "O.K. I'll cooperate". He then led CSU members upstairs where he allowed us to rrlake entry into his residence and informed us that he has marijuana in the residence.

Alqott then showed c5U members around his residence where there were multiple marijuana plants growing in various stages of development. He also showed these us where there were numerous marijuana buds that had recently been picked off the plants. His wife Taisha Alcott (Kroll) was also present in the residence cutting the leaves off a marijuana plant upon our entry. She was also handcuffed and detained for the moment. She was later placed under arrest. Alcott then brought us into his three year old son's bedroom where the child was taking a .

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an showed us the marijuana plants he had growing in his son's bedroom as well. Scattered about the residence was .

numerous forms of marijuana, paraphernalia, and cultivating tools. It should also be noted that in the basement where Alcott was initially detained was an entire area where the floor had been ripped out to farm. There was a dirt floor where things were being planted and farmed right there on the basement floor. There was also a safe in the basement in the area where Alcott was standing and numerous cultivation tools.路 At this point Alcott and his wife were sat down while arrangements were made for their child, a search warrant was applied for. After having a .

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s~arch warrant signed

at GA-07 I returned to the residence where CSU members were still

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~tanding

by securing

the residence awaiting the arrival ofa search warrant. Both Taisha and Robert Alcott had since been placed under arrest and transported to Meriden Police Headquarters for processing. Stephen Mattesini had previously been transported to headquarters and had been processed I

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on his arrest as well. . Mattesini was processed and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, 21a-279c, Possession of Controlled Substance WITS, 21a-277b, and Possession of Cont. Sub W/I 1500' of a school zone (Mt Carmel School). He was given UAR#8691190, a court date of 10/28/10, and detained on a $5000 bond.

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MERIDEN POLICE DEPARTMENT CASE I INCIDENT REPORT

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COMPLAINT NO.

10-16581 We then began a systematic search of the residence which recovered the following pieces of evidence. See evidence log for complete details regarding the Whereabouts of each item located, and each items specifics.

Item 4:

One bagof marijuana plants loaded with ri,arijuana buds (total WeightQamS)

Item 5:

One container of marijuana plants loaded with marijuana buds (total

Item 6:

One glass bong

Itern 7:

One plastic plate and cup (were being used to separate buds from stems)

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Item 7a: Loose marijuana contained on and in Item 7 (total weight 6.14 grams) Item 8:

Numerous high times magazines and cultivation literature

Item 9:

Numerous empty bags (packaging) one digital scale and one marijuana scope (for examining growth of marijuana)

Item 10: Sixty dollars (60) US paper currency Item 11: Numerous plastic bags and containers filled with various breads of marijuana seeds Item 12: Proof of residence for Taisha (Kroll) Alcott Item 13: Numerousstems and Marijuana plant leaves (total weight 65.9 grams) Item 14: Three sandwich bags each containing marijuana (total weight 23.7 grams) Item 15: One Samurai sword Item 16: Thirteen small marijuana plants each originally growing in its own container Item 17: Four large marijuana plants loaded with marijuana buds (202.8 grams) Item 18: plant growing路 chemicals and food Item 19: "Numerous plant growing light bulbs in various sizes

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COMPLAINT NO.

10-16581 Iten" 20: Grow lights of various sizes and shapes路 Iterii' 21: Proof of residence for Robert Alcott Item 22: Two large marijuana plants loaded with buds (49.1 grams) LOCATED IN CHILDREN'S BEDROOM Item 23: Three large freezer and sandwich bags of marijuana buds (weight 372.4 grams) Item 24: One large di~ital scale Item 24a: One small digital scale Item 24b: Finger prints lifted from large digital scale

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Item 25: New plastic bags for packaqin

Total.weight of marijua'

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(3.45 pounds) A sample portion of the marijuana located was tested using a Nik test kit. It showed positive for the presence of marijuana. The remaining portion was tagged and placed in the evidence locker room for safeguarding. I have been trained in the use of this system and have used it numerous times in the past. The marijuana located has a street value of approximately $10,000. The groWing operation was quite elaborjjte and it was obvious that Alcott spent a large amount of time preparing all this equipment for the grow operation. He was actually roto-tilling the basement floor right before we entered with a gasoline powered roto-tiller you would use on a farm to prepare soil for planting crops. Robert provided Officer Sullivan with a detailed sworn statement about his growing operation and how he produces marijuana to sell and smoke. See attached statement for details. It should also be noted that Item 22 was located in the closet in the boys bedroom. It was on the floor in the closet well within their reach and could have been easily handled by them.

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MERIDEN POLICE DEPARTMENT

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CASE I INCIDENT REPORT

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COMPLAINT NO.

10-16581 DCF was notified this date and an oral report was made. DCF-136 attached. All of the four children who reside in the residence with the Alcohs were turned over to Robert Alcotts t

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mother~ho took them to 176 Old Stagecoach crossing.

At headquarters Robert Alcott was processed and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance over four ounces, 21a-21a-279b, Possession of Controlled Substance WITS over 1 Kilo, 21a-278b, Possession of Controlled Sub W/I 1500' of a school zone, 21a-278a(b), Cultivation of marijuana, 21a-277b, Operating a drug factory, 21a-277c, Possession of Drug paraphernalia, 21a-267a, Conspiracy to .

Distribute Controlled SUbstance, 53a-48/21a-277b, and Risk of Injury to a minor, 53-21. He was given UAR#8691192, a court date of 10/28/2010, and detained on a $150,000 bond.

Taisha Alcott was processed and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance over four ounces, 21a-21a-279b, Possession of Controlled Substance WITS over 1 Kilo, 21a-278b, Possession of Controlled Sub W/I 1500' of a school zone, 21a-278a(b), Cultivation of marijuana, 21a-277b, Operating a drug factory, 21a-277c, Possession of Drug paraphernalia, 21a-267a, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance, 53a-48/21a-277b, and Risk of InjUry to a minor, 53-21. He was given UAR#8691190, a court date of 10/28/2010, and detained on a $150,000 bond.

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