Teens, 18 & 19, Face Gun Charges After 'Alert' Citizen Called Cops: PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — An "alert resident" called cops just before 2 a.m. Thursday, after seeing people in a dark-colored sedan "checking the door handles of vehicles parked in driveways," police said.

The caller told cops which way the car was headed, East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

East Haven police officer Jayqwan Wilkins saw the black 2011 Honda Accord, stopped in the middle of Laurel Street, Murgo said. When the driver of the car, later identified as Christopher Rodriguez-Mitja, 19, of New Haven, saw Wilkins, he continued to drive north on Laurel Street before turning on to Nicole Court, a dead-end, Murgo said.

Wilkins went to the car, where Ron Calderon, 18, of East Haven, was a passenger.

Police would find several spent 9mm shell casings in the car and a loaded 9mm handgun, Murgo said. He noted that "due to their age," neither were eligible to possess a valid pistol permit or legally carry a handgun.

Both were arrested and were taken into custody without incident and were booked at the East Haven Police Department.

Rodriguez-Mitja was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, carrying a weapon in a car, illegal possession of cannabis, and a number of vehicle and traffic violations.

Calderon was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, carrying a weapon in a car, and illegal possession of cannabis

Both were held on $10,000 bail and are due in court Sept. 17.

"We want to remind our residents to remain vigilant, lock their vehicles at night and to be sure that valuable belongings are brought in at the end of the night," Murgo said.