Stamford Man Hid Stolen Guns, Drugs In Abandoned Cars, Police Say

STAMFORD, CT — A 32-year-old man is facing several weapons and drug charges after police said he stashed guns in abandoned cars in Stamford.

Jonathan Gomez, of Stamford, was arrested on June 28 around 2:30 p.m., Capt. Richard Conklin of the Stamford Police Department said.

"Through various investigative techniques and intel," according to Conklin, investigators determined Gomez was involved in drug deals and was hiding several weapons in abandoned cars that were parked in a lot in the 40 block of Montauk Drive.

After a multi-week investigation, Conklin said officers set up surveillance on Gomez on Montauk Drive and saw him in a car driven by another man.

When officers tried to stop the car, Conklin said Alexander drove past a number of officers but eventually boxed himself in.

Both men were taken out of the car, and Gomez "resisted violently," Conklin said.

Search warrants were executed on the nearby abandoned cars in question.

Conklin said officers found three loaded guns in a Toyota Corolla -- a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver that was one of 111 firearms reported stolen out of Springfield, Mass. in November 2012; a Smith & Wesson M&P that belonged to a Durham, N.C. police officer but was reported stolen out of Raleigh, N.C. in July 2021; and a .357 revolver.

Officers also found a little over 4 grams of fentanyl in the Toyota, and about 14.5 grams of crack cocaine and an electronic scale in another car, Conklin said.

Gomez was arrested and charged with interfering and resisting police; three counts of criminal possession of a firearm; two counts of theft of a firearm; criminal possession of ammunition; illegal possession of a large capacity magazine; three counts of illegal weapons in a motor vehicle; possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Conklin said Gomez has a lengthy criminal record with many pending cases.

Most recently on June 21, police said Gomez was arrested in Darien and charged with forgery, improper use of a marker plate, possession of more than 1.5 ounces of marijuana and manufacturing, distributing and selling marijuana. He was able to post 10 percent of his $1,000 bond on those charges and was released.

Gomez was given a court-set bond of $500,000 for the latest charges in Stamford, Conklin said. He's scheduled to appear in court July 12.

"This was a very nice job by narcotics and organized crime who were backed up by the patrol division this afternoon," Conklin said. "Three handguns, two of them stolen, taken off the streets and out of the possession of a very dangerous convicted felon... These types of surgical operations like this really go a long way to keep our city safe."