Police arrest two New London men after drug trafficking investigation
Editor's Note: This article corrects the addresses of the accused.
New London — Police on Tuesday evening arrested two local men on drug-related charges following an investigation that involved members of local, state and federal organizations, according to a news release.
Rakim "Rocky" Thornton, 24, of 25 Jay St., was charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school.
Kenneth "Cheese" Barnhill, 31, of 15 Clover Court, was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of crack cocaine, illegal sale of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school and interfering with a search.
Police did not clarify how many counts of each charge Barnhill is facing.
According to the release, put out by the state police Statewide Narcotics Task Force - East, the two were arrested after both a search and an arrest warrant were served at 108 Connecticut Ave.
Police said the warrants resulted from a months-long investigation conducted by members of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force - East, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the New London Police Vice and Intelligence Unit.
According to the release, the investigation centered on a crack cocaine and heroin trafficking organization based primarily in New London.
State Judicial Branch records show Barnhill has four prior criminal convictions, the most recent of which the result of a June 2013 incident that led New London police to use a Taser on him.
In that incident, Barnhill was convicted of possession of narcotics and assault of public safety, emergency medical, health care or public transit personnel.
He was sentenced in June 2014 to five years in prison, suspended after one year served and followed by two years' probation.
Not including Tuesday's charges, records show Thornton has two pending motor vehicle cases and one pending criminal case.
In the latter, which is out of West Hartford, he is facing charges of third-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit and second-degree breach of peace.
Police said Thornton and Barnhill were held on cash bonds and are scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Wednesday.
Twitter: @LindsayABoyle
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