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Second Man Charged With Selling Fentanyl-Laced Crack In Norwalk

NORWALK, Conn. -- A second man has been charged with selling crack cocaine laced with Fentanyl in Norwalk, just days after seven people in the city overdosed on crack laced with opiates, two of which were fatal, according to police.

Derrick Wiggins

Derrick Wiggins

Photo Credit: Norwalk Police Department

After officers learned that 43-year-old Derrick Wiggins of Waterbury was selling crack cocaine in Norwalk, members of the Special Services Division conducted an undercover buy and bust operation with him on Monday, July 24, police said. An undercover officer met with Wiggins and found him to be in possession of crack cocaine, at which point officers moved in and arrested Wiggins on New Canaan Avenue near Tindall Place, police said.

Police said that Wiggins resisted arrested, and had to be Tasered before officers were able to secure him in handcuffs. The crack cocaine that Wiggins had on him field tested positive for the presence of Fentanyl, a powerful opiate, according to police.

The bust comes after a busy weekend in which a total of seven people were found to have overdosed on crack cocaine laced with an opiate, according to police. The first three overdoses occurred between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Saturday, and took place on Quaker Road, Suncrest Road and Perry Avenue. Two people died as a result of these initial three overdoses, police said.

Later that afternoon, one person overdosed at a motel on Westport Avenue and another was taken to the hospital for an overdose from an address on Arch Street, police said. Two more overdoses were reported after 1 a.m. Sunday that were consistent with the earlier ones, police said.

Related story: Opiate-laced crack leads to five overdoses, two fatal, in one day

Police arrested one person suspected of selling Fentanyl-laced crack on Saturday night. At around 9 p.m. Saturday, undercover officers set up a controlled purchase of crack cocaine from Eric Frank, 29, of Norwalk, in the parking lot of Best Buy, police said. When officers moved in to arrest Frank, a struggle ensued, during which Frank kneed one officer in the groin, and sustained minor injuries, according to police.

While at the hospital being treated for minor injuries, Frank was able to obtain a handcuff key and tried to undo his leg shackles, police said. Officers were able to quickly secure Frank and recover the key.

At the time of his arrest, police said they had not established a connection between Frank and the seven overdoses, but that the investigation was ongoing.

Related story: Norwalk man charged with trying to sell opiate-laced crack

After Wiggins was arrested on Monday, police charged him with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, and interfering with an officer. His bond was set at $100,000 and he was given an Aug. 2 court date.

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