Two nabbed in city heroin bust

NORWICH – Following months of covert efforts, the Norwich Police Department and New York State Police raided a home on Lee Avenue Wednesday, arresting two people suspected of trafficking narcotics and seizing several packages of heroin.

Police waited until about 7:50 a.m., shortly after neighbors said three young children living at the home left for school, to raid the residence. They rushed the apartment in full tactical gear, lobbing concussion grenades into the building before breaking through the front and rear doors simultaneously.

Police found the two residents of the 4 Lee Ave. apartment inside – 39-year-old David A. Cahill and his 21-year-old live-in girlfriend, Rachael A. Cummings.

Cahill and Cummings had identical charges filed against them in Norwich City Court, the top count being third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony. Norwich City Court Judge James Downey said the crime carried a sentence of between 8 and 25 years in state prison.

The couple was also charged with first degree criminal nuisance, a class E felony and second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

“I have to credit the good citizens who live in this neighborhood with being patient while the police conducted this lengthy investigation,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.

One resident living in the area said he had recently reported finding a heroin syringe that had been discarded along the street.

In court, Downey reported that police had seized nine individually-wrapped packages of heroin stamped with the words “Game Over” on them, each worth approximately $20 a piece on the street.

Appearing before the judge, Cahill said he had sole custody of his three children, ages 5, 7 and 9, who had lived at the Norwich apartment with him for the last 18 months.

First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee said Cahill had past arrests in his home state of Connecticut for multiple drug related offenses, including sale and possession. Dunshee also said Cahill’s past acts in the state included fleeing and fighting with police.