Tuesday, December 2, 2008 5:27 AM EST
By Register Staff
WEST HAVEN — Police are investigating a security breach at their impound lot behind the station, in which heroin was apparently stolen from a vehicle being held as evidence, a police source said late Monday.
As many as 3,000 packets of heroin were stolen from the vehicle parked in the lot behind police headquarters at 200 Sawmill Road, the source said. Numerous other heroin packets were left behind in the vehicle, the source said.
Someone cut the fence to gain access to the lot, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
When asked about the report Monday night, Police Chief Ronald M. Quagliani responded, "I can't confirm that. ... That's news to me." He added that he would look into the matter. Subsequent calls to his cell phone were unanswered.
Lt. Harry Molyneux, the shift commander on duty at police headquarters Monday night, said he could not confirm or deny the report. Molyneux said he was not aware of any issues with the impound lot, but noted that he works the 4 p.m. to midnight shift and was not on duty this weekend.
The vehicle containing the heroin was taken to the impound lot after a drug bust last week, the source said.
No further information on that drug bust was available, nor was there any information on a suspect or suspects in the security breach.
The incident comes at an awkward time for the Police Department. Today, representatives from the Connecticut Police Officers Standards and Training Council accreditation unit are scheduled for a walk-through at police headquarters.
Having the POST accreditation ensures all police policies and procedures are in line with state guidelines.
Register reporters Abbe Smith, Amanda Pinto, Mark Zaretsky and Assistant Metro Editor Ann DeMatteo contributed to this story.
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