Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Mother Charged in Drug Sting Suing PD For Son's Tasering

Middletown Police say an 18-year-old Grand Street man was found with marijuana and crack and his mother used a 1-year-old to shield herself from officers.

Update: March 5:

The 40-year-old Grand Street woman and 18-year-old son charged March 1 in connection with a drug raid that revealed a marijuana and crack cocaine-selling operation are moving toward a trial in a lawsuit the mother has brought against the city for Tasering her son.

See: Middletown High Taser Incident Headed for Trial

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Original version:

An 18-year-old Bloods gang member and his 40-year-old mother are facing charges in connection with a Grand Street drug raid that revealed a marijuana and crack cocaine-selling operation in the presence of a young child, according to .

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On March 1, the Street Crime Unit and Patrol and Major Investigation Division served a warrant at 35 Grand Street, second floor, for Zahrod Jackson and Denzel Teart, 19, of 89 Grove Street after police received numerous complaints from residents, landlords and the North End Action Team about drug sales.

Police say Jackson and Teart, both are known Bloods gang members, were selling crack cocaine at 35 Grand St.

Detectives saw Teart walking in the area with another known Bloods member, Dvonte Tenn, 19, of 10 East Lake Place; then both walked north on Main Street near St. Johns Square. When Teart and Tenn observed a police cruiser they both turned and walked south on Main Street, police say. Tenn had a violation of probation warrant, the report says. 

At 35 Grand Street, police smelled the odor of burnt marijuana and saw five adults and a 1-year-old inside. Jackson became combative and refused to be handcuffed; then was subdued after a brief struggle, the report says. Jackson’s mother, Tanya Jackson, used the child to shield herself from police. She was combative and refused to be handcuffed, the report details.

Inside detectives found crack cocaine, a razor blade covered with crack cocaine, marijuana, a smoking pipe, marijuana grinders, packaging materials, and a fake can of soda commonly used to conceal narcotics.  

The Department of Children and Families was contacted as the 1-year-old was present while marijuana was around and being smoked, and crack cocaine was being sold. The DCF investigation is ongoing, the report says. 

Zahrod Jackson was arrested and held on a  $125,000 bond for: possession of crack cocaine; and within 1,500 of an elementary school, possession of marijuana; and within 1,500 of an elementary school; possession of drug paraphernalia within 1,500 of an elementary school, risk of injury to a minor and interfering with a search warrant.

Tanya Jackson was arrested and held on a $50,000 bond for: possession of marijuana; and within 1,500 of an elementary school; possession of drug paraphernalia within 1,500 of an elementary school, risk of injury to a minor and interfering with a search warrant.

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