Arresting dealers for selling in Colchester is hardly anything new. They seem to arrive from out of state, set up shop in a local motel, do their business and leave. But in what police referred to as a “bizarre drug bust,” one dealer had a new twist.
Raven Perez, 34, out of Middletown, Connecticut, was arrested at the Days Inn in Colchester. She is charged with possession with intent to sell: heroin, crack cocaine, and powdered cocaine. And her new take on the “business”? A price list showing each drug and quantities along with how much each would cost. Was there a quantity discount? Did she take coupons? Police didn’t say.
It could be that Ms. Perez wasn’t using the price list to attract customers, but for her own reference. Still, it’s a very odd thing to find in a world where negotiation is the norm and you get whatever you can for your product.
Ms. Peres is now under arrest and being held on $25,000 bond. With any luck, the prosecutor’s office will provide her with a price list of their own – the amount of prison time and fines due, depending on just what she wants to plead guilty of.
What makes this business model so attractive? There are several benefits. First of all, it’s cheap to drive on our expressways from your home turf and rent a motel room. Once you have that, you can sell drugs in private and out of the cold. None of the standing out in the street trying to flag down cars. Deliveries can be set up conveniently by cell phone – did she offer a Domino’s style, half-hour or it’s free?
For police, it’s difficult to catch these crooks unless they get a tip. They got a tip in this case.
