Two Found With Loaded Guns After Traffic Stops: WeHa PD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Two routine traffic stops in recent days by West Hartford police have resulted in two being arrested for having loaded guns in their vehicles illegally.

The West Hartford Police Department issued two arrest summaries Monday evening regarding the incidents, one happening Friday, Jan. 27, and the other on Sunday, Jan. 29.

Sunday incident

The most recent incident involved the WHPD conducting a motor vehicle stop at about 5:02 p.m. Sunday.

Charged in that incident was Hartford resident Nehemiah Lewis, 22, who was charged with: carrying a pistol without a permit; improper storage of a pistol/revolver in a motor vehicle; operating an unregistered motor vehicle; illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine; illegal operation of a motor vehicle without insurance; misuse of plates; and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Lewis was held on $100,000 bond and was transferred to the custody of judicial marshals for arraignment, police said.

According to the WHPD, a patrol officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle displaying a misused license plate.

During the course of the stop, the operator — later identified as Lewis — was found to be wanted by Hartford police for disorderly conduct.

The WHPD said a single bullet was found on the passenger side floorboard of Lewis' vehicle.

A search of the vehicle yielded a loaded handgun under the driver seat, ammunition and an extended magazine, police said.

That incident was the second traffic stop in three days in West Hartford that led to weapons charges against the operator.

Friday Incident

On Friday, Jan. 27, police arrested and charged 31-year-old Bridgeport resident Sergio Cruz with: failure to drive right; criminal possession of a firearm; illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine; illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle; and sale of a controlled substance.

The WHPD said Cruz was released after posting a $250,000 bond and will appear in Hartford Superior Court Feb. 9.

Police said at about 1:33 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, WHPD officers stopped a motor vehicle after "witnessing an operator commit moving violations."

During the investigation, police said a WHPD police dog sniffed out narcotics on the passenger-side front door.

A subsequent search of that vehicle revealed a loaded handgun under the driver's seat, marijuana and materials used for the packaging and sale of drugs, police said.