By Editorial Staff
(October 10, 2026) — The Higganum man facing charges in connection with an explosion last year at a home on Staba Drive, has asked a Superior Court judge to continue his case to May of 2027 for health reasons. 54 year old Andrew Lirot is charged with Operation of a Drug Factory, a Class E Felony, in connection with the explosion on September 7, 2025 at 6 Staba Drive. Lirot was injured in the blast and, according to the arrest warrant, told investigators that the explosion had been caused by a gas grill. A subsequent investigation by Connecticut State Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency determined that chemicals such as Ammonium Nitrate and Pseudoephedrine, as well as other items found at Lirot’s home, were being used to make methamphetamine.
In a court appearance on October 9, 2026, Lirot, who is not represented by legal counsel, asked Superior Court Judge David Gold for a continuance of his case to May of next year because, Lirot said, he is undergoing cancer treatment. Gold instructed Lirot to obtain an application for a continuance from the Court Clerk and return it to the court, along with medical records documenting his condition, by October 30, 2026. Lirot has been free on bond since his arrest.
