An 18-year-old police say has been selling marijuana in Unionville was arrested Wednesday after an investigation by Farmington’s Narcotics Response Team.
Police received a tip that Adam Cote, 18, of 49 Pre Dem Road in Bristol, had been selling in the area and followed up with a lengthy investigation.
Cote was arrested Tuesday at 40 Hillside Ave., where police found him with 13 grams of marijuana, a scale and a pipe. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana and possession with intent to sell.
He posted $1,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 7, 2012. Possession with intent to sell is a felony charge and could result in as much as a $25,000 fine, seven years in prison or both.
The Narcotics Response Team was formed in December 2009 of Farmington police officers.
“We used to belong to a regional response team, which was essentially suspended due to budget cuts,” said Lt. Marshall Porter. “But we recognized we had a drug problem in town and assigned our own guys to do narcotics work in town.”
The effort has had a stunning effect. During the first year, Porter said, the team seized more than 21 pounds of marijuana, 16 grams of heroin, crack cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, PCP and prescription drugs. The team also seized $53,000 in cash, 10 vehicles, five guns, knives, batons, Chinese throwing stars and brass knuckles and made 150 arrests in the first year, Porter said. Money and car sale proceeds benefit drug enforcement and education.
Since then the numbers have decreased dramatically.
“It does quiet down after that because we started going after them,” he said.
Residents are encouraged to share any information or concerns about narcotics in town with Farmington police either by talking to a police officer they’re familiar with, calling detectives directly or using the department’s anonymous tip line. The tip line number is 860-675-2483 and messages are checked daily.
“Sometimes people get discouraged because they think we don’t follow up but some cases require a lot of subsequent investigation and surveillance. We’ve made some very significant arrests from tips,” Porter said.
