PD: Men Tried to Pawn Off Deodorant Chunks as Crack

Two men are behind bars awaiting arraignment after one solicited drug customers at a Cromwell motel, then both hatched a scheme to pass off chunks of deodorant in a plastic bag as crack cocaine, and were caught by undercover officers, according to Middletown Police.

On Dec. 11, an unidentified man told police he had received a note under his door at the Super 8 Motel in Cromwell, which read, "If you need party supplies, call [phone number redacted]."

The following day, the report says, police text-messaged to the number, "Got ur note @super 8 I need party supplies im @ middletown now," received a response and set up a purchase of an "eight-ball" [3.5 ounces of crack cocaine] for $150.

At 6:10 p.m., police say they witnessed Robert E. Griffin II, 37, of no certain address, exiting a Volvo driven by Matthew A. Miramant, 32, of Hawks Nest Circle, at the Wesley Inn off Camp Street, knocked on the door to room 123 and walked back and forth nervously, the report says.

Griffin threw a baggie with a white, soap-like substance on the ground, police say, and was arrested after saying it was deodorant. His plan, officers indicate, was if the buyer realized the fraud and he was big, Griffin would run away; if he was small, the report says, he would "stomp him."

Miramant admitted dropping Griffin off, the report says, but claimed to not know why.

Inside the Volvo, police say, there were three used hypodermic needles and several open, heat-sealed baggies used for heroin, some with trace amounts of the white powder. Miramant told officers he used a couple of bags of heroin a day, the report says. In the trunk of the car, police found two samarai swords and couldn't explain their origins. The report says Griffin's cell phone had texts from the undercover officer.

Police say Griffin admitted he was staying at the Super 8 Motel in Cromwell, had put the note under the man's door, received the text asking for an "eight-ball," and believed Miramant put deodorant in a baggie.

Miramant was uncooperative and refused to answer questions, police say.

Griffin was charged with misrepresentation of a substance as controlled, sixth-degree larceny, and two counts of conspiracy. Miramant was arrested for operation under suspension, use of drug paraphernalia, misrepresentation of a substance as controlled, possession of controlled substances, weapons in vehicle, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy and attempt to commit crime.

They are both due back in court on Dec. 21.