By Daniel Tepfer
Connecticut Post Online (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
EASTON, Conn. — Area firefighters were still reeling Saturday over the arrest of a former assistant fire chief here for allegedly running a drug ring.
“Everybody is very upset about it,” said Fire Chief Doug Von Holtz. Thursday night members of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force arrested Ernest Ross, 60, who served as assistant fire chief in the 1980s.
Police said Ross was packaging cocaine in his home at 310 Center Road and with the help of at least two younger employees and selling the drugs at bars in Fairfield and Bridgeport. His home is a short distance from the police department.
Ross was charged with operating a drug factory, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 of a school and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
He was released after posting $25,000 bond pending arraignment in Superior Court on Nov. 30.
Von Holtz said he knows Ross but that the man hadn’t been associated with the fire department for several years.
“I really had no idea what he was doing,” he added.
Police said they also arrested two of Ross’ employees, Kevin Hughes, 24, and Caitlyn Gomola, 21. Hughes was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms with intent to sell. He was released after posting $10,000 bond. Gomola, the daughter of a Fairfield firefighter, was charged with interfering with a search warrant and released on a promise to appear in court.
Ross has denied in an interview with the Connecticut Post to selling drugs and claimed the cocaine police found on him was for his personal use.