Men Arrested On Gun Charges: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — Two men were arrested on gun charges over the weekend in Meriden, according to police.

Police said the arrests stem from an investigation that began earlier this month into several gun violence incidents that happened in Meriden and Waterbury. The Meriden and Waterbury police departments, along with the FBI, initiated the investigation.

The investigation identified several suspects who are believed to be responsible for the gun violence incidents, according to police.

Plain clothes detectives began surveilling Deon Camp on May 28, police said. Camp had two active warrants for violation of probation that originated from previous “acts of gun violence” that happened in 2016, according to police.

Camp also had an active arrest warrant out of Middletown for engaging officers in a pursuit and a warrant out of Waterbury for criminal possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence.

With the assistance of Cromwell Police Department and the FBI, police said Camp was apprehended while sitting in a vehicle with an associate who was identified as Vincent Martinez.

“Located in plain view on the passenger floor where Deon was sitting was a Glock 9mm pistol which contained a 50 round drum magazine and had an obliterated serial number,” police wrote in a news release. “Detectives were able to locate a secondary serial number which revealed the Glock was a stolen firearm. Deon is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.”

A Glock 9mm pistol was found in a back seat pocket where Martinez was sitting, according to police.

“Located on the floor near Vincent’s feet was a backpack which also contained an additional 50 round drum magazine,” police wrote. “The Glock was not stamped with a serial number as required by CGS 29-36, which classifies the pistol a ‘Ghost gun.’ Vincent does not have a pistol permit and is prohibited from carrying a firearm.

“We would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance with this investigation, specifically the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Waterbury Police Department, the Middletown Police Department, the Bristol Police Department and the Cromwell Police Department.”

Camp, 29, was arrested on charges of carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm, altering/no serial number on a firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine. He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

Martinez, 19, was arrested on charges of carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, altering/no serial number on a firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine. He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond.