DANBURY — Danbury Police Department’s Special Investigations Division, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration and a K-9 officer from the Bethel Police Department, carried out multiple search warrants on July 16, resulting in the arrests of two individuals for drug-related offenses.
The operation, which took place at 3:14 p.m., was the culmination of a months-long investigation triggered by citizen complaints of illegal drug, liquor, and cigarette sales at an apartment on Foster Street.
Detectives had previously executed search warrants at the same address three times.
Surveillance operations at the residence of Vera Ribeiro-Menezes led to the observation of individuals, including Walter Whitlock, entering and exiting the apartment.
Whitlock was detained and found in possession of what later tested to be crack cocaine.
Following the arrest of Whitlock, detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Ribeiro-Menezes’ apartment, leading to her arrest for the sale of crack cocaine.
The search uncovered over $8,500 in cash, an electronic scale, and crack cocaine packaged for sale.
Vera Lucia Ribeiro-Menezes, 70, faces charges including possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell, and sale of narcotics, with additional charges for proximity to a school.
Her bond is set at $150,000.
Walter Whitlock, 57, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Further details regarding his bond were not immediately available.
