Police Take Rifles, Drugs Off the Street

A Naugatuck police officer’s curiosity and instincts are being lauded for helping to take illegal guns and drugs off the streets.

Officer Colin McAllister pulled up to the scene of a one-car accident at Elm and Spencer streets just after 5:30 Sunday night and wondered why a man and woman were pulling several duffel bags out of the car.

McAllister also noticed that one of the bags had something long and narrow protruding from it and began asking questions.

It turns out that Michael Lisi, a 44-year-old convicted felon from Shelton, had two fully loaded AR-15 rifles and 106 prescription painkillers that were not in their original cases, police said.

Police said they also seized several rounds of ammunition, syringes, marijuana and roach clips.

Lisi, of 5 Cots Ave., was charged with possession of a controlled substance, use of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of firearms and illegal possession of narcotics.

Dawn Mayo, 44, of 73 Lewis St., Naugatuck, was driving the car. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance and use of drug paraphernalia, as well as several motor vehicle infractions, including failure to have proper insurance and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Mayo was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and will be arraigned Nov. 28 at Waterbury Superior Court.

Lisi has several convictions for drug sales and one for engaging police in pursuit on his record, according to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. In 2006, he was sentenced to three years in prison for narcotics sales, the website states.

Lt. Bryan Cammarata, Naugatuck police spokesman, applauded McAllister’s police work.

“It was a common case of asking questions and going a little bit further,” Cammarata said.