4 Face East Haven Police Gun, Drug Charges After Chase Into New Haven

EAST HAVEN, CT —What began as a routine car stop, ended after a chase from East Haven into New Haven led to four men now facing gun and drug possession charges, according to East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Murgo described what led to the arrests:

Tuesday, East Haven police officer Stephen Marsico stopped a Lexus GS 300 near Main Street and Boston Avenue for an "equipment violation." The driver, who police are not yet naming, initially gave his ID to the officer and agreed to get out of the car and speak with Marsico. But he apparently changed his mind and took off on foot westbound on Main Street. Cops ran after him through several backyards on Harrington Avenue. Police lost sight of him around Boston Avenue, but continued to search the area. He'd left his identification behind.

Police Officer Donato Palma and his K9 partner Enzo got to the area and the K9 did an "article search" along the path the driver had fled. During that search, K9 Enzo found a gun in a Harrington Avenue backyard: a .45 caliber Glock that had been stolen out of Hamden in July 2021.

Meanwhile, a search of the car found a "quantity of marijuana, large amount of cash and bullets matching the rounds in the discarded firearm."

A passenger in the car, Gary Gibson, 23, was taken into custody.

Murgo said cops "saturated" the side streets surrounding Harrington Avenue searching for the driver who fled. Meanwhile, East Haven police Detective Sergeant Joe Finoia and Detective Jon Trinh spotted a maroon Honda Accord speeding away south on Harrington Avenue. Believing the vehicle had just picked up the fleeing suspect, Finioa and Trinh pursued the vehicle into New Haven. The chase ended when the fleeing Honda hit a New Haven Fire Department vehicle in the area of Willow and State streets.

The three men inside the car, Tyzhon Denby, 21, Armani Salcedo, 22, and Elder Mellado, 21, were taken into custody "without incident" and no injuries were reported, Murgo said.

A search of the Honda found two 9mm semi automatic ghost guns, an extended magazine, a large “drum” magazine, .40mm and 9mm ammunition, narcotics, including 57 bags of crack cocaine packaged for street sales, a large amount of cash and several fraudulent license plates, Murgo said.

The following are the charges the four men face:

Denby, of New Haven, was charged with engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, second-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of controlled substance, possession with intent to sell, two counts of weapon in a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer, two counts of illegal possession of large capacity magazine, and four motor vehicle violations. He was held at the East Haven Police Department and later released on a $150,000 surety bond. He's scheduled to appear in court April 27.

Salcedo, of New Haven, was charged with two counts of carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of controlled substance, possession with intent to sell, two counts of weapon in a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer, and two counts of illegal possession of large capacity magazine. He, too, was held at the police department and later released on a $150,000 surety bond. He, too, is scheduled to appear in court April 27.

Elder Mellado, of New Haven, was charged with two counts of carrying a pistol without a permit, three counts of criminal possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substance, possession with intent to sell, two counts of weapon in a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer, and two counts of illegal possession of large capacity magazine. He, too, was held at the police department and later released on a $150,000 surety bond. He, too, is scheduled to appear in court April 27.

Gibson, of New Haven, was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance, and possession with intent to sell. He was released on a $2,500 surety bond. He, too, is scheduled to appear in court April 27.

The person who fled on foot wasn't found, but Murgo said an "arrest warrant affidavit will be applied for and charges will be forthcoming."