NORWICH – Drugs are what motivated the recent crime spree in the City of Norwich, including the burglaries and shooting that took place three weeks ago and a recent arrest last week of four people allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

On Oct. 9, Columbus Day, there was a shooting at the Plank Road Manor Apartments located on Plymouth Street near the city line. Later that week, police arrested Kevin Begeal in connection with a series of burglaries. Last week, Norwich City Police arrested four people suspected of drug trafficking in the city, one of whom lived in the apartment shot at in Plank Road Apartments. Thanks to public tips and the cooperation of local residents, police announced they had sufficient information to link the crimes together.

During their investigation into the apartment shooting, police uncovered several leads concerning drug-related activity and because of this it is suspected that the shooting may have been drug motivated. After his arrest, Begeal admitted to some aspects of his crimes, but also gave investigators information about his motives. “He alleged he wanted to get money so he could go buy crack,” said Police Chief Joseph Angelino. “At several of the businesses, electronic devices and things of considerable value were ignored and only cash was taken, sometimes a very small amount,” said Angelino.

Begeal gave investigators information that also led them to the same Plank Road Manor apartment that had been shot at and to a home on Henry Street, both already suspected of carrying out drug-related activity. Last week as a result of public tips, Begeal’s statements and the cooperation from the Plank Road administrators and residents, police obtained search warrants for the two homes. They found contraband and illegal drugs at the two locations.