Officer Assaulted During Traffic Stop, ‘Ghost Gun’ Seized: West Haven PD

WEST HAVEN, CT — A man who was wanted on several arrest warrants is accused of assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop Saturday in West Haven, according to police.

Police said a new officer who was on-field training with his field training officer were conducting “proactive motor vehicle enforcement” on March 16 when they saw a vehicle with an expired paper license plate.

A motor vehicle stop was conducted, and police said a man in the car was found to have several outstanding arrest warrants. The man then assaulted an officer at the scene, according to police.

“During the course of the rest of the investigation, the Officer in Training located a ‘Ghost Gun’ with an illegal 30 round extended magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition,” police wrote in a news release. “A ‘ghost gun’ is commonly referred to as an illegally manufactured firearm that does not have a serial number, as required by law.”

The man was identified as 30-year-old Shaka McKnight, who police said is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms.

McKnight was arrested on the outstanding warrants, and was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm, illegal manufacture of a firearm, illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine, weapons in a motor vehicle, illegal transfer of a firearm, assault on a police officer, criminal impersonation, and interfering with an officer. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

Police said a second passenger in the vehicle, identified as 29-year-old Sandra Cruz, was also arrested. Cruz was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine. Cruz was held in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

The driver was also arrested on several motor vehicle charges and released, according to police.