Drug Bust at Sharon Valley Tavern

SHARON — A lengthy investigation and several undercover drug buys led to the arrest of three men Dec. 22 at Sharon Valley Tavern. Dale Brazee was charged as a result of a search and seizure operation led by the Statewide Narcotics Task Force.

Brazee, 44, of Lake Amenia Road in Amenia was charged with three counts of illegal possession of narcotics, three counts of the sale of narcotics, and conspiracy to sell narcotics. He posted a $150,000 bond and is to appear in court Jan. 9.

The tavern has not closed as a result of the arrests.

Two patrons at the Sharon Valley Road bar that Friday evening were arrested after being found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Ralph Peterson, 45, of Sharon was found in possession of a pipe containing marijuana residue. Randy Jordan, 32, of Sharon was found with a small amount of marijuana. Both men were charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $2,500 for Peterson and $3,000 for Jordan. Both are scheduled to appear in Bantam Superior Court Jan. 8.

The tavern had been under surveillance since July. According to the arrest warrant issued Dec. 20, a "cooperating witness" approached bar patron Mitchell Conlogue and asked where he could buy cocaine.

Conlogue, 26, led the buyer to a white 1994 Dodge Caravan where Brazee was identified as supplying drugs. The van is registered to Brazee at a 26 Hospital Hill Road (Sharon) address.

Conlogue has not been charged with a crime.

The police witness made cocaine buys at the tavern or in the parking lot on Aug. 31, Oct. 12 and Nov. 22. A total of 8.4 grams of cocaine were purchased.

State Police Spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance told The Journal the investigation was hampered by the difficulty of sending a trooper into the bar undercover.

"It’s such a small community. Everyone knows everyone. A stranger would be very noticeable and, if they are dealing drugs there, they would be suspicious of him. It takes a long time to penetrate an operation like that," Vance said.

According to Vance, the tavern’s liquor license may or may not be affected by the drug bust.

"The liquor commission could pull it, or not. Nothing will happen until the case is resolved. [Brazee] is innocent until proven guilty."

The arrests fueled rumors of movement in the Floyd Ellis murder investigation. The Sharon resident was last scene alive at the tavern before his body was found in 2004 between the tavern and his nearby home.

Vance said he would not be allowed to give details of the investigation of the unsolved murder. He would have been advised, at least, if the case was part of the undercover investigation at the tavern. Although the Western District Major Crime Squad was involved, Vance said he had not been advised of any connection between the two cases.

One longtime resident of the neighborhood, who asked that his name not be used, said he stopped going into the tavern three years ago because of persistent stories of drug activity.

"I didn’t want to be around there, especially if the cops raided the place. And everybody knew that was going to happen sooner or later."

He said that residents had complained to state police for several years about the tavern and alleged drug activity, and that in recent months he had noticed more state police cars going by.

Complaints were also raised at a town meeting, with neighbors saying they were concerned about intoxicated drivers leaving the bar and fights spilling out of it.

"People here are happy about it," said the resident, referring to the arrests. "Maybe they’ll shut it down."

A spokesman from the Liquor Control Division of the state Department of Consumer Protection said Friday that state police had forwarded their report to them and the situation was under review.

The permit holder for the tavern is Joseph L. Kain Jr. of Amenia. A check of the department’s Web site showed no history of complaints or disciplinary actions taken against the tavern.

— Patrick Sullivan contributed

to this article.