Drug Task Force Nabs Suspected Heroin Dealer at Vernon Eatery

Police hauled a suspected heroin dealer out of a local sandwich shop on Tuesday, according to a news release distributed by the East Central Narcotics Task Force.

Task force members on Tuesday obtained four arrest warrants for Ricky Lyons, who worked at the Subway at 69 Windsor Ave - Route 83. According to a news release, a surveillance operation was set up near the restaurant to observe him at about 3:30 p.m.

Just prior to Lyons being handcuffed, he attempted to discard 10 bags of heroin in a trash bin inside the Subway, police said. Task force officers were able to recover the drugs, according to a news release.

The arrest warrants were the result of an undercover operation in which Lyons was closely observed selling heroin over what police said was "a couple of months" in Vernon.

Task force officers also obtained a search warrant for Lyons' Nissan Maxima, in which they seized more heroin and a small amount of marijuana, police said.

Lyons, 40, lives at 12 Flatbush Ave., Hartford, police said. He is on parole for an assault case, police said. He is also facing a cocaine charge, police said. 

Police said the charges against Lyons' are:

From Tuesday's stake-out:

• Possession of heroin.
• Possession of heroin with the intent to sell.
• Marijuana possession.
• Tampering with evidence.
Bond - $50,000.

Warrant 1

• Cocaine possession.
• Possession of cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school.
• The sale of cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school.
Bond - $350,000.

Warrant 2

• Heroin possession.
• The sale of heroin.
• Possession of heroin within 1,500 feet of a school. 
• Sale of heroin within 1,500 feet of a school.
Bond - $350,000.

Warrant 3

• Possession of heroin.
• Sale of heroin.
Bond - $200,000.

Warrant 4

• Possession of heroin.
• Sale of heroin.
Bond - $200,000.

The East Central Narcotics Task Force is a collaboration between Vernon, Manchester, Glastonbury and South Windsor police.

Tuesday's drug bust was the second animated case in about a month's time at the Windsor Avenue Subway.

In mid-January, a man, using what appeared to be a piece of firewood from an adjacent hardware store, broke a window and began taking bags of chips before being caught by police.