Citing collaboration between city, state and federal law enforcement agencies, Mayor Joe Ganim and Police Chief AJ Perez on Thursday provided a media briefing following the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of heroin, marijuana and weapons. Perez said the operation sold drugs throughout Fairfield County and operated in Black Rock.
From city Communications Director Av Harris:
Bridgeport Police today announced that an operation conducted by the Narcotics Division and the Violent Crime Reduction Task Force, in conjunction with the Darien Police Department, has resulted in the arrests of three men including a significant drug dealer in Bridgeport who is believed to have run a heroin and marijuana ring out of Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood. The Bridgeport Police Narcotics Task Force working in tandem with the Darien Police Department, conducted a long term drug investigation into a large scale heroin trafficker, later identified as Joel Jean, born 08/30/86. The NTF also found information on what the dealer claimed was the preparation and diet for him so as to not get addicted to the drugs himself. Investigations revealed that Joel Jean, while free on parole, has been distributing large quantities of heroin throughout the city of Bridgeport and lower Fairfield County. As a result of the investigation, search and seizure warrants were gained for Jean’s residence, located at 127 Hansen Avenue, Bridgeport Connecticut, and for his vehicle; a 2004 Honda Accord, which police witnessed Jean used to transport heroin. Lastly, an arrest warrant was obtained for Joel Jean charging him with a substantiated count of sale of narcotics.
“This significant action by the Bridgeport Police underscores the point that we will proactively pursue those who sell poisonous illicit drugs in our city and use illegal weapons to harm our residents,” said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. “In this case our police officers got key cooperation from the Darien Police Department and this dealer was selling these dangerous substances while on parole to customers all over Fairfield County. This behavior will not be tolerated in Black Rock or any neighborhood in Bridgeport and we will continue to work very hard to crack down hard on anyone who endangers our residents. These actions make Bridgeport’s streets safer.”
On August 3, 2016, members of the Bridgeport Police Narcotics Division and Darien Police Department apprehended Joel Jean and his cohort, Scott Similient, during a motor vehicle stop. Shortly after the pair were taken into custody, authorities executed the search and seizure warrant on Jean’s residence, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 400 bags of heroin, 2 pounds of marijuana, scales, drug packaging materials, a pump action 12-gage shotgun, two loaded semi automatic pistols, assorted ammunition and over $3,000 in cash from drug proceeds.
During the search of the residence a male, later identified as Jamel Jacobs, arrived on scene. It was determined shortly thereafter that he also resided at the address. Police later located a firearm in his vehicle. Jacobs had a valid pistol permit; however, after he provided a combination to the safe located inside the residence, which was opened by police and found to contain two pounds of marijuana, he too was placed under arrest.
Joel Jean was charged with Criminal Attempt at Sale of Narcotics, Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Sell, Possession of Narcotics With Intent To Sell and Operating a Drug Factory. Jean was charged separately with the arrest warrant for one count of Sale of Narcotics, that was attached with a court set bond of $250,000. Due to his status of being on Parole (supervised release from prison), Joel Jean will be remanded back into custody.
Scott Similien Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Sell and Criminal Attempt @ Sale of Narcotics. Similien was held in lieu of $50,000 pending his arraignment in court (GA2). Jamel Jacobs was charged with Possession of over 4 pounds of Marijuana and Operating a Drug Factory and was held in lieu of $50,000.
Chief, are you getting tired of having your picture taken at every arrest?
Andy, is that all you got out of the article, picture and video? Did you, the best firefighter in Bridgeport history, miss the part about the firearms taken off the street? Remember the story you told us about getting shot at while fighting fires in Bridgeport. I take it you’re absolutely sure those guns would have never been used to shoot at firefighters while doing their job yesterday or in the near future. You are absolutely sure Chief AJ has never run into a burning building, house or vehicle to save a life? Look at the tag below the commentary and you’ll notice three names and Av Harris is not even in the picture. Take a look at the picture again and go to your file of AJ pictures of arrests. Pay close attention to that other Police Officer standing on the side. Who the fuck is he? He is a nobody right, I’ve never met him or ever noticed him either up to now like everyone else. Lennie, are you blind? Someone, tell us who is that cop.
The other day I read an article regarding the arrest of a Greenwich Billionaire who had drugs in his possession after getting arrested for failing to pay for a cab ride. The Police Dept. did not want to say what kind of drug it was. The arrest of the individuals in this story leaves out the names of the buyers and not as detailed as it is about the sellers. Why is it time and time again, the real problem is the drug dealers? Where do these poor white, rich victims get the money to pay top dollar for heroin or other drugs? What are their names, addresses, and info on their background? What’s their excuse or explanation for getting involved in drug trafficking? Oh, we must protect the innocent! It’s like when Bridgeport law enforcement goes after the prostitutes and ignore the Johns. The Gorilla in the room called suburbia. No one wants to talk about the flip side of the drug bags. Let’s send a message to those urban drug dealers and set an example. We do this when innocent kids OD and that will solve or greatly reduce the problem. What came first, the chicken or the egg? What came first, the drug dealer or the drug user? In the meantime, innocent little Sally in suburbia asked daddy for money ($1,000) to go shopping with her friends.
Joel, I am in no way Bridgeport’s #1 firefighter. Never! Let’s try Jack Lally, Lou Serca, George Bryant Bill Haug and Earl Pettway to name just a few. These are and were great men.
So very well said, Joel. The war on drugs have never been to stop the suburban buyer, just to incarcerate the urban dealer.
And the War on Drugs, started by President Reagan began at a time when use was decreasing, but the alignment of laws, police power, judicial outcomes changing and unequal prosecutorial discretion in cities and towns is still ongoing. The outcome for urban black males has been devastating during that time period, especially when you consider the number of felons created by pleading by young men who had no idea how the title of felon, once earned, would affect life direction and choices so as to make you part of an underclass.
For more data, discussion and insight please read Michelle Alexander’s THE NEW JIM CROW, published by The New Press within the past six years. My personal takeaway deals with the court system where TV watchers are familiar with Miranda rights reading to those arrested. Failing to Mirandize cuts a person from prosecution, guilty or innocent. But for the past 30 years or more, how have the courts processed those “without genuine legal representation,” being encouraged to plead to a felony perhaps to avoid doing jail time initially, but doomed afterwards to losing many citizen and Constitutional rights as Americans because of that plea. And they never understood what was given up! They did not understand a pleading lost them rights and/or left them in continuing discretionary jail for life. Can we do better? Time will tell.