Police Arrest Two Suspects in Fatal Crack Cocaine Dealing Scuffle in Waterbury: Police

A man, 35, died Saturday after falling from a fleeing pickup truck in Waterbury during a crack cocaine deal dispute and now two men are under arrest, according to police.

Carl Brown, 35, of Waterbury, died of head injuries after falling during a fight with truck passenger Nicholas Henry, 23, of Bethel, as driver Steven Vlash, 22, of New Milford, sped off during a drug deal, police said.

Vlash had driven Henry in his white 2005 Chevy Colorado pickup truck to the corner of Grove and Bishop streets on Saturday afternoon so the two men could buy crack cocaine from Brown, police said. He tried to drive off during an argument over money, but Brown clung to the truck as he fought with Henry, police said. He hung on as Vlash sped off, but fell to the pavement a fifth of a mile away in the area of 70 Linden Street, police said. The incident happened at about 1:30 p.m.

An ambulance transported Brown to Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, but he died a half hour after arriving, police said.

Officers located the pickup truck parked in New Milford near Vlash's home at 86 Belair Drive and seized it, police said.

Police charged Vlash with evading responsibility at the felony level and criminal attempt at the possession of narcotics, police said. The department held him on a $750,000 bond and he is due in Waterbury Superior Court on Monday.

Henry was charged with criminal attempt at possession of narcotics. Police released him from custody and he is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

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