Two people face multiple felony charges for allegedly trying to smuggle narcotics into someone who was being held at the Bristol Police Department over the summer using a “fall guy.”
The drugs were allegedly discovered on July 6 around 1 a.m. when a man known to live at a homeless encampment in the Bristol dropped off a sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants for a suspect being held at the department on robbery and assault charges, according to the arrest warrant affidavit in the case. The suspect who was being held was allegedly known by police as a dealer and user of narcotics.
According to the warrant affidavit, an officer searching the clothing felt a small bulge in the waistband of the sweatpants and cut a small opening in the pants, reportedly revealing two “tightly rolled” wax paper folds consistent with packaging heroin or fentanyl. The officer then cut the rest of the waistband and found six more wax folds.
A white powdery substance inside the folds was tested and came back positive for heroin/fentanyl, the warrant affidavit said.
Investigators immediately sought to speak with the man who dropped the clothes off, finding him at the encampment where he was known to live. Police detained him and questioned him about the clothes.
The man told police he was approached by 30-year-old Tyler Marquis and 36-year-old Alanna Deangelis about bringing the clothes to a man being held at the police department, the warrant affidavit said. The man alleged that they offered to pay him $20.
According to the warrant affidavit, Marquis told the man he had recently been arrested by Bristol police for selling narcotics and could not “show his face” there. Marquis and Deangelis allegedly drove the man to a McDonald’s not far from the police department on North Main Street and gave him the clothing, the warrant affidavit said.
Marquis and Deangelis drove the man back to the homeless encampment afterward, the warrant affidavit said. The man said Marquis allegedly wanted to meet him the next morning about bringing some shoes to the suspect who was being held, according to the warrant affidavit.
While speaking to police, the man who dropped off the clothes told investigators the suspect who was being held was allegedly known to sell drugs for Marquis, the warrant affidavit said.
Authorities checked video surveillance outside the police department around the time the clothing was dropped off and found that a Nissan Titan drove by the station minutes before. According to the warrant affidavit, Marquis was known to drive a Titan and was operating one during a previous narcotics arrest in Southington.
Police also listened to the initial call made to the department asking whether clothing could be dropped off for a prisoner, the warrant affidavit said. During the call, a woman believed to be Deangelis could be heard being instructed by a man believed to be Marquis, telling her what questions to ask, the warrant affidavit said.
Investigators also looked at Marquis’ booking photos during previous arrests. During an arrest in January on an intent to sell charge, police noted that Marquis was allegedly wearing “the exact same” sweatshirt that was dropped off.
Police obtained warrants for both Deangelis and Marquis, who were arrested on Sept. 17 and 18, respectively. They each face charges of conveying an unauthorized item into an institution, conspiracy to commit conveying an unauthorized item into an institution, sale of a narcotic substance, conspiracy to commit sale of a narcotic substance, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance.
Marquis is free on a $75,000 bond, while Deangelis has posted a $20,000 bond. Marquis is expected to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Oct. 18, and Deangelis is due in court on Oct. 31.
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