CT man accused of operating drug factory after crash on Route 9 leads to discovery of illegal drugs
A three-car rollover crash on Route 9 in New Britain on Wednesday led to state troopers finding enough illegal drugs in a man's vehicle and home to charge him with operating a drug factory.
The collision was reported at 1:17 p.m. on the northbound side of the highway in the area of Exit 37B where two of the vehicles rolled over, injuring one of the drivers, according to Connecticut State Police. The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The other two drivers did not report any injuries, according to state police. As wreckers were called to the scene to tow the vehicles, state police alleged that they found that one of the uninjured drivers, who was found to be at fault for the crash, had a 'significant quantity of controlled substances, packaging equipment and narcotics-related paraphernalia.' He was identified as 30-year-old Frank Mitchell of Hamden.
According to state police, Mitchell allegedly admitted that he produces chocolate bars and gummies containing mushrooms. He was arrested and transported to the Troop H barracks before authorities obtained a search warrant for his residence.
During the search, troopers allegedly found additional narcotics, drug paraphernalia, drug equipment and a large-capacity magazine.
Mitchell faces two counts each of possession with intent to sell/dispense a hallucinogenic substance, use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance and a single count of operation of a drug factory, reckless driving, failure to drive in the proper lane on a limited access highway and illegal possession of a large-capacity magazine.
He was held on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Friday.
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