Convicted Felon Caught Selling Drugs, Had Loaded Gun: Middletown Police – Patch.com

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A convicted felon was arrested Thursday after police said he was seen selling drugs and was found to be in the possession of a loaded gun.
Detectives from Middletown’s Police Street Crime Unit were conducting surveillance in the area of Rapallo Avenue on Feb. 24 as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, according to police.
Police said detectives saw Darel Edwards, 44, of Norwalk, and another person “conducting hand to hand drugs transactions out of Edwards’ vehicle.”
“Upon detectives approaching Edwards’ vehicle he fled from police, engaging in a short pursuit before pulling into a driveway on Pearl Street and fleeing his vehicle on foot,” police wrote in a news release. “After exiting the vehicle, Edwards discarded a Dan Wesson Wraith 9mm handgun loaded with five rounds of live ammunition which was recovered by officers.”
Edwards was found by patrol officers nearby and arrested, according to police.
Police said a search of his vehicle found 68 bags of fentanyl, 25.2 grams of marijuana, and cash.
Edwards, who police said is a convicted felon currently on parole, was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, engaging in pursuit, reckless driving, and interfering with an officer.
He was being held in lieu of a $300,000 bond with a court date of March 29, according to state judicial records. Edwards’ Department of Corrections parole officer was contacted about the arrest, and he was remanded to custody, according to police.
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