Three-Department Investigation Leads to 40-Pound Marijuana Bust

A joint investigation has led to arrest of three Connecticut residents and seizure of more than 40 pounds of marijuana that detectives said was ready to be distributed throughout the state.

Detectives with the Fairfield, Southington, and Plainville police departments executed a search warrant inside a Plainville home Thursday, finding a full marijuana distribution operation in progress, according to Fairfield Police Chief Gary M. MacNamara.

“When officers entered the home, they found the suspects sitting in a living room area with boxes of marijuana on the floor and money rolls scattered around the house,” MacNamara said.

“There was a large smell of marijuana resonating outside the home and officers were able to take the suspects into custody without any resistance.”

Newtown resident Stephen Karolczuk, Fairfield resident Skylar Arnold and Plainville resident Jonathan Temporale were all taken into custody following the raid at Temporale’s 462 East St. home.

Arnold, 27, and Temporale, 29, are each facing charges of possession of more than a kilogram of marijuana with the intent to sell, illegal possession of more than four ounces of marijuana and possession of drug factory paraphernalia.

Karolczuk, 30, is facing charges of conspiracy to possess more than a kilogram of marijuana, conspiracy to commit operation of a drug factory, illegal possession of more than four ounces of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Temporale was released after posting a $250,000, but both Arnold and Karoluczuk were held overnight and are scheduled for arraignment in Bristol Superior Court today, according to court officials.

Additional arrests are expected in the Fairfield area over the next few days, police said.

“This joint effort was vital in helping take a large amount of drugs off our streets,” said Chief Jack Daly. “Together we are all working towards the same end goal and that is to keep our streets safe and drug-free.”

The investigation began about a month ago after Fairfield detectives received a tip from a concerned citizen reporting narcotics sales in town, MacNamara said. The investigation led detectives to Arnold and they received information this week that there was a significant shipment of marijuana coming in through Plainville.

Southington police K-9 Arno and Fairfield police K-9 Ruger led officers as they entered the home, detectives said. The suspects remained still as police entered.

Fairfield Lt. Michael Gagner said the search not only revealed the 40 pounds of marijuana, which has an estimated street value of around $140,000 to $150,000, but said there was also a number of materials in the home to expedite the distribution process.

“They were working systematically,” he said. “We found a package sealer, we found a money counter and there were rolls of cash around the home totaling just over $24,000.”

MacNamara said the three were trying to use town lines as a limitation to prevent police from being able to conduct a thorough investigation, but cooperation between the departments played a key role in helping prevent them from hiding the operation.

Although the bust is a considerable one, MacNamara said there is still a lot of work for police to do when it comes to addressing drug sales in the state.

“Every arrest that our officers make, somewhere in the state there is another operation like this happening,” he said. “We need to continue to work together as law enforcement agencies and stay focused on addressing this issue.”