Neighbors and SeeClickFix help stop alleged drug dealing

NEW HAVEN — Police arrested two men on drug charges after interrupting an alleged heroin deal on Eld Street in the East Rock neighborhood Monday.
Members of a Block Watch and the local alderman alerted police to the suspicious activity last week, which was happening near Worthington Hooker Middle School, and members of the narcotics unit made the arrests in a sting Monday.
"I was impressed and surprised at how quickly they got on it," said a Block Watch member who sent out an e-mail last week, alerting residents to the behavior after noticing a pattern where two cars would park on Eld Street near Hooker in the middle of the afternoon, make a quick transaction and drive off. She alerted police and her alderman, and posted the problem on www.seeclickfix.com, a Web site where residents can report anything from pot holes to drug deals.
"My window overlooks the whole scene. I saw the same thing," said Alderman Roland Lemar, who described the bust as an illustration of how good communication between neighbors and police can generate positive results.
Detectives set up surveillance and, at 2:31 p.m., at the corner of Orange and Eld streets, arrested the alleged dealer, Nelson Garcia 30, of 154 Canal St. and the alleged buyer, Joseph Mazzucco, 35, of 60 Rock Road, North Haven.
Police seized 10 packets of heroin from Mazzucco, police said, and charged him with possession of narcotics, possession within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and failure to obey a traffic signal. Detectives seized $1,060 from Garcia, as well as a 2010 Toyota Camry, and charged him with sale of narcotics, police said.