Police charge man with selling drugs

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Jason Heath Franklin

NAUGATUCK — A seven-month long investigation culminated in July with the arrest of a 45-year-old Waterbury man for selling drugs outside a bar on Church Street.

Police initiated an investigation into the dealings of Jason Heath Franklin, of 22 Laval St., Waterbury, in January after developing information that Franklin sold cocaine, according to court documents.

A confidential informant told police Franklin spent most of his time at Sullivan’s Bar on Church Street. Franklin dealt in street-level, hand-to-hand transactions, which took place outside the bar, according to the arrest warrant. The arrest warrant states the bar wasn’t a part of Franklin’s activities.

Over the ensuing months, police conducted controlled drug buys, which were recorded, of cocaine and marijuana from Franklin, according to court documents.

Police arrested Franklin on a warrant on July 26 at the bar. According to court documents, Franklin had nine baggies of cocaine that weighed a total of 4.72 grams, 118 alprazolam pills, also known as Xanax, in a vitamin bottle, two suboxone films, which are used to treat opioid addiction, and $615 in cash on him at the time. Police seized the drugs and cash.

Police charged Franklin with sale of narcotics and prescription drugs, along with illegal possession of narcotics. Franklin is being held on bonds totaling $75,000 and is due back in Waterbury Superior Court on Aug. 27.