ARREST COMES SPECIAL DELIVERY

BRISTOL -- A city man was arrested on drug charges after receiving at his
job site a package containing marijuana,specially delivered by police
detectives Tuesday afternoon.

Javier Rivera, 33, of 94 Putnam St., was charged with possession of
marijuana and possession of more then one kilogram of marijuana with intent
to sell.

The package -- which Rivera received while working at Meineke Discount
Muffler Shop on Farmington Avenue -- was first discovered by West Hartford
police days earlier when Airborne Express reported a suspicious 62-pound
parcel, police said.

After the K-9 division determined the package might contain drugs, police --
with a search warrant -- opened the cardboard box to find five individually
wrapped packages of marijuana, ranging in weight from 3 to 9.5 pounds,
according to the incident report.

The package contained a total of 31.5 pounds of marijuana, which has an
estimated street value of over $120,000, police said.

The package -- which was sent to the Meineke address -- came from Los
Angeles, according to police records.

Both the return address and phone number on the package were false, police said.

Tuesday, Bristol and West Hartford detectives set up a sting operation in
which the package -- minus most of the drugs in case something went wrong --
would be delivered to the muffler shop.

A police detective, dressed as an Airborne Express employee, drove a
delivery van to the Bristol location, according to the incident report.

Rivera allegedly emerged from the muffler shop, signing for the package
under the name John Perry, police said. The package and receipt exchange
were videotaped by police.

After the package was given to Rivera, he and two co-workers were
handcuffed, police said. Rivera told police the others did not have
knowledge of the package, according to the incident report.

Rivera -- who reportedly was cooperative with police -- said the package was
for "Eddie," and Rivera simply received the packages and handed them over,
according to the incident report.

Over the last week, Rivera had discussed the Airborne package with Eddie and
was expecting Eddie to pick it up after he received it at Meineke, police said.

Rivera said he never knew Eddie's last name and was paid $1,000 to receive
the package, according to police. He also said he was not completely aware
that there were drugs in the packages.

The money he got, Rivera told police, was being used to help support his
wife and child, according to the incident report.

While speaking with his wife on the phone after his arrest, Rivera
alledgedly told her police had arrested him after seizing a package
containing marijuana. According to police, they did not tell Rivera the
contents of the package until later.

Rivera was arraigned in Bristol Superior Court Tuesday, still wearing his
Meineke mechanic uniform.

"I think it is a little modest," said Michael Glowa, senior assistant
state's attorney, on the $100,000 bond suggested by the bail commissioner.

"This is not personal consumption," said Glowa, who added that the state had
a strong case against Rivera.

Glowa said he objected to the $100,000 bond because someone allegedly
selling drugs could -- with the assistance of a bail bondsman -- easily come
up with the money needed to be freed.

Rivera -- who is on probation for a conviction of driving while intoxicated
- -- has two cases pending in Norwalk, one of which is on charges for sale of
a controlled substance, sale of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school and
possession of drugs -- less than 4 ounces.

"This man's profession has nothing to do with selling mufflers," said
Superior Court Judge Christina Dunnell. She said a high bond was in order
for anyone who may be selling drugs.

Rivera's bail was set at $350,000. He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 20.