Southington Traffic Stop Leads To Several Drug/Weapons Charges: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A young Bristol man will appear in court early next month after a Southington traffic stop for a reported traffic light violation resulted in several drug and weapons charges.

According to the Southington Police Department, Evan Rodriguez, 18, of Bristol, was charged with violating a traffic control signal; traveling too fast for conditions; carrying a pistol without a permit; criminal possession of firearms/ammunition; illegal alteration of a firearms identity; illegal purchase of a large-capacity magazine; illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle; second-degree reckless endangerment; two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell; and possession of a controlled substance.

He was released on $150,000 bond and is slated to appear in New Britain Superior Court March 3.

According to police, the situation started with a 2:55 p.m. traffic stop on West Street in Southington, near Welch Road, on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Police said the vehicle being driven by the suspect failed to stop at a red light and was pulled over.

According to the SPD, officers approached the vehicle, which also included a 17-year-old juvenile passenger from Bristol, and claimed the two inside were "acting suspicious."

"Upon making contact with the occupants, officers immediately noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle, leading to further investigation," wrote the SPD in a release issued Monday.

Police said they discovered a black backpack inside the vehicle with two bags of was appeared to be marijuana.

A further search of the vehicle revealed 2 pounds of packaged pot; cocaine; and ecstasy pills, police said.

In addition, police said they found a 9-mm "ghost gun" with a high-capacity magazine.

"Rodriguez was placed under arrest and transported to Southington Police Headquarters," wrote the SPD.

Police did not indicate any charges for the juvenile in the vehicle.