Officers Subdue Suspected Crack Dealer With Taser

A suspected drug dealer was pulled over in his vehicle at a Vernon convenience store, tried to flee and wrestled with officers on Tuesday, police said.

And when the sparks from the Taser subsided, he was facing a plethora of charges.
 
The latest saga involving Robert Bell began when the East Central Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant in Vernon for a black Acura TL  automobile, according to a task force news release.

Task force officers had obtained information that Bell,  25, of 15 Concord St. in East Hartford, who operates under the street name ''B,'' was selling crack cocaine from the Acura, according to a task force news release.

Task force members attempted stop the vehicle just after 5 p.m. at a 7-Eleven parking Lot in Vernon, according to a task force news release. Bell attempted to flee the scene, and rammed a task force vehicle, police said.

Bell resisted as task force members attempted to detain him, and a Taser had to be deployed to get Bell into handcuffs, according to a task force news release.

Task force members seized 11 grams of crack cocaine, and more than $800 in cash off of Bell during the search, according to a task force news release.

Bell has a history of narcotics arrests in Connecticut, police said.

Police outlined the charges:

• Possession of cocaine.
• Possession of cocaine with intent to sell.
• Possession of cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school.
• Possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school.
• Criminal attempt/second-degree assault.
• Reckless endangerment.
• Interfering with a police officer.
• Interfering with a search warrant.

Bond was set at $251,000. No court date was specified in the news release. 

The East Central Narcotics Task Force cossets of personnel from Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon, and Glastonbury.