Eight arrested in Norwich drug and prostitution crackdown

Norwich — Police arrested eight people today in separate undercover operations targeting heroin trafficking and prostitution in the downtown and Greenville sections of the city.

Mariah Freehart, 19, of 68 Thermos Ave., Apt. 313, was charged with prostitutiin while Edward Cantara, 52, of 73 Allyn Ave.; Robert DeLorge, 45, of 544 North Main St. and Louis Job, 54, of 142 Canterbury Rd., Plainfield, were all charged with patronzing a prostitute.

Kimberly Rapchak, 50, of 45 Fairmount St., and David Saragosa, 51, of 17 Carpenter St., were charged with sale of heroin and conspiracy to sell heroin. Shelly Rush, 42, of 16 Franklin St., Apt. 207, was charged with sale of heroin, conspiracy to sell heroin and possession of heroin.

Angel Castillo, 31, of 469 Boswell Ave., was charged with patronizing a prostitute, first-degree reckless endangerment, driving with a suspended license, criminal attempt to sell cocaine and reckless driving.

Police said the investigation that led to the arrests were based on complaints from residents and observations of police officers.

Rapchak, Saragosa and Rush were released on bond and are scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 18 in Norwich Superior court. Freehart, Job, DeLorge and Cantara were also released on bond and will be arraigned in the court on Nov. 1. Castillo was held on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned today.

Anyone with information regarding any criminal activity in the City of Norwich is encouraged to call the Norwich Police Department, at (860)886-5561 or the anonymous tip line at (860)886-5561, extension 500.