Extra-Extra-Strength Tylenol
It looks like one student enrolled in the Licensed Practical Nurse Program at the Lincoln Technical School in New Britain tried to get a jump start on her medical career — but ended up getting charged with a crime instead. The New Britain Herald reports that Sandra Matthews, 41, of Park Place, Middletown, was arrested Nov. 12 for three counts of second-degree assault, accused of providing Tramadol, a powerful prescription painkiller, to three fellow classmates, who asked her for Tylenol for headaches.

Police reports say a 22-year-old woman contacted police Aug. 25 because she had a seizure and was hospitalized after taking four of the pills. The warrant said the woman was still experiencing slurred speech days after the incident. While police investigated, two other women reported they had taken "Tylenol" provided by Matthews. One was subsequently hospitalized and the other went home sick, police say. Matthews, who has since been expelled from the school, is out on bond with a Nov. 25 court date.

Tattoo Clues
On Nov. 9, detectives from the Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics Division noticed a man walking down Martin Street matched the description of a fugitive wanted in connection with a July 4, 2007, stabbing, in which a first-degree murder warrant was issued for Waldermar Mercado, 29. Police report the man, whose large tattoo on the left side of his neck and scar on his right eyebrow matched the fugitive's, said his name was Miguel Hernandez. Perhaps Mr. "Hernandez" should have considered wearing turtlenecks while on the lam, since the tattoo on his neck could clearly be read by police: "Waldermar Mercado." He is being held on a $1 million bond.

In With the New, Out With the Old
Sgt. Christine Mertes of the Hartford Police reports that a serious assault took place at 412 Garden St. on Nov. 14 at 8:15 p.m. The victim, unnamed because of an ongoing investigation, was allegedly on his ex-girlfriend's back porch drinking beer, and had been for a while. The man had been allowed into the house several times to use the bathroom, but when he knocked one more time in hopes of relieving himself, an angry male opened the door, picked up a wooden chair leg and proceeded to badly beat the man. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he now is in stable condition.

Police say the alleged perpetrator is the current boyfriend of the victim's ex-girlfriend.

Customer Service
The owner of the downtown Middletown restaurant Luce is due in court Nov. 23 for allegedly spitting in the face of a woman who parked in the parking lot adjacent to his eatery. According to the Middletown Press, Senad Bajraktarvic, 45, of Middletown, was charged Nov. 10 with third-degree assault, interfering with an officer and second-degree unlawful restraint.

Middletown police reports say Bajraktarvic confronted the victim, screamed at her to move her car, spat in her face and called her "trash." He then allegedly blocked her from re-entering her vehicle. Once she was inside the car, Bajraktarvic reportedly slammed the car door into her left side and leg and spat on her car as she drove away. Police say he only admitted to yelling at the victim and calling her "trash."

Burning Down the House
A Deep River man was sentenced Nov. 10 to three years in prison for his role in an Oct. 8, 2008, arson in which the home he shared with his then wife was burned to the ground. Stanley G. Horan III, 51, formerly of 206 Warsaw St., pleaded no contest to third-degree arson, the Middletown Press reports.

The warrant states that the day before the blaze, Horan's wife of 15 years told him she wanted a divorce. She told police Horan told her she would never get the house. The day of the fire, a retired firefighter noticed smoke coming from the house and found Horan inside with a 3- to 4-inch knife wound in his stomach, which he told the man he had inflicted himself, as well as starting the fire.

The warrant states the couple's three cats were found inside a car that had been parked on the street, a safe distance from the fire. Horan is due back in court Jan. 29 for his disposition.

Pills on Wheels
Two individuals were arrested Nov. 12 by Hartford Police, according to Sgt. Christine Mertes, for driving the wrong way down a one-way street and for having narcotic drugs in improper containers. Officers received a call from personnel at the Simpson-Waverly Classical Magnet School with regard to a green van driving the wrong way down Waverly Street. When officers arrived, Joanne Rich, 47, of Moser Drive in Ellington, and Brian Kowakcyk were found incoherent inside a parked vehicle, police say, with a number of prescription drugs, some in containers and some not. In all, police found 21 yellow heartburn pills, 34 white arthritis pills, and six round, peach-colored bladder pills. Both were released on a promise to appear Nov. 24 in court.

All of the information contained in the Advocate's police blotter comes from police reports or officials, or has been shamelessly swiped from other published accounts. Individuals charged have not been independently investigated by the Advocate. All those arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.