Bridgeport Convicted Felon Charged with Possession of a Firearm: State Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — State Police and Bridgeport Police detectives assigned to the Connecticut State Police Gang Unit arrested a convicted felon for possession of a firearm, officials said in a news release.

On August 8 the Connecticut State Police Statewide Urban Violence Cooperative Crime Control Task Force (SUVCCCTF)/Gang Unit, which consists of Connecticut State Police detectives and Bridgeport Police detectives, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force (SOCITF), and detectives from the Bridgeport Police Department, apprehended convicted felon Raul Zayas, 26, of Capital Avenue, on an active felony warrant held by the Bridgeport Police Department for firearm-related offenses, State Police said.

The felony arrest warrant stemmed from Zayas’ involvement in a recent shooting in the city of Bridgeport, State Police said.

This investigation began when SUVCCCTF detectives developed information that Raul Zayas was in possession of a firearm, and was keeping it at 556 Capitol Ave. apt #3 in Bridgeport, State Police said in a news release.

After corroborating this information through investigative techniques, the task force detectives obtained a search and seizure warrant for the Capitol Avenue residence, State Police said.

On August 8, Raul Zayas was observed exiting the residence and entering a vehicle. The task force officers were able to stop Raul Zayas’ vehicle a short distance later in the city of Bridgeport, State Police said.

As the detectives attempted to approach the vehicle Raul Zayas was driving, Zayas attempted to flee, and intentionally struck a police vehicle that was positioned to prevent his escape, State Police said. There were no injuries reported.

Raul Zayas surrendered to detectives and was taken into custody without further incident. Zayas was found to be in possession of 2.8 grams of crack cocaine and $541.00 of U.S. currency, State Police said.

Once Zayas was in custody task force detectives, with the assistance of detectives from the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF) Southwest Office, executed the search and seizure warrant at 556 Capitol Avenue in Bridgeport.

Detectives found evidence that Raul Zayas had been residing at the Capitol Ave. location, and seized a loaded .45 Caliber semi-automatic handgun from his bedroom, State Police said in a news release.