Stamford Police Critical in Drug Dealer's Downfall

Former Stamford resident Gregory Russell was sentenced to ten years in federal prison Wednesday, having been found guilty on charges of unlawful gun possession and intent to distribute crack-cocaine earlier this year.

According to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice, SPD's Organized Crime and Narcotics Squad arrested Russell on July 25, 2009, when they spotted him during a drug investigation at the intersection of Atlantic Street and Woodland Avenue. Officers recognized that Russell had at least one outstanding warrant for a parole violation.

"When two officers attempted to take Russell into custody, he refused their initial instructions to get out of the car.  Russell then emerged from the car suddenly, spun away from the officer closest to him, reached into his waistband and withdrew a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol," a press release detailing SPD's involvement with Russell's arrest states.

"As the officers attempted to subdue Russell, he dropped the gun to the ground and fell to the sidewalk where he discarded 10 baggies of crack cocaine that were packaged for distribution. Russell was then secured in handcuffs."

Russell had been incarcerated within the Department of Corrections prior to his trial earlier this year. On March 10, 2010, Russell was found guilty on all charges.

The office of the Connecticut's DOJ states that Russell's arrest was a part of the DOJ's "Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative".