A teenager was arrested last week when police allegedly found him with a “ghost” gun in Meriden after investigating him for allegedly pistol-whipping a juvenile last month.
Jhoan Alejandro Almeida-Cando, 18, faces two counts each of carrying a pistol without a permit and weapon in a motor vehicle and a single count of interfering with police, second-degree assault with a firearm and risk of injury to a minor, according to the Meriden Police Department.
Almeida-Cando was arrested on Oct. 2 after authorities spotted him exiting a vehicle in the area of Pratt Street. He was located by members of the police department’s Crime Suppression Unit, Major Crimes Unit and Evidence Identification Unit.
According to police, authorities had been investigating Almeida-Cando for allegations involving a firearm. When he spotted police, he allegedly took off on foot and was quickly apprehended, police said.
Inside the vehicle he was driving, police claimed that they found a 9mm Polymer firearm without a serial number. According to police, Almeida-Cando does not possess a valid pistol permit and is prohibited from carrying a firearm. He was held on a $1 million bond following his arrest.
According to police, investigators received multiple complaints in September about a man who was allegedly in illegal possession of a gun. Police said they were able to identify the individual as Almeida-Cando.
During one of the incidents, Almeida-Cando allegedly confronted a juvenile on a sidewalk and struck them in the head with a firearm, causing an injury, according to police.
Following his apprehension last week, police said they charged Almeida-Cando in connection with the pistol-whipping incident after obtaining a warrant for his arrest, which increased his bond by $100,000.
