A vehicle involved in a ‘shots fired’ incident in Hartford was located by West Hartford Police on Monday.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police are taking extra precautions and changing some procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but day-to-day police work is still taking place, and Monday officers apprehended two individuals in a stolen car, and seized a stolen gun, drugs, and cash.

Capt. Michael Perruccio said Tuesday that a detective who is a member of the Community Services Unit (CSU) observed a black Acura 3.2CL traveling west on New Britain Avenue from Hartford into West Hartford on Monday at 1:29 p.m. The vehicle was identified as having been been involved in a recent “shots fired” in Hartford, and the stop by West Hartford is a great example of the “importance of communication from different police departments,” Perruccio said.

When the vehicle pulled into the parking lot at 918 New Britain Ave., police said, two occupants exited the car and patrol units immediately converged. The driver was detained near the car, and the passenger was detained in the nearby parking lot at 888 New Britain Ave. in Hartford, Perruccio said.

Inside the vehicle, police found a stolen Sig Sauer P250 handgun, 236 bags of Fentanyl, 18.8 grams of crack and $2,270 in suspected drug proceeds, Perruccio said.

The passenger, Javier DelValle, 21, of Adelaide Street in Hartford, was arrested and charged with theft of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and two counts of illegal possession of narcotics.

DelValle was held on $250,000 surety bond.

The driver, Jesus Sierra, 26, of Natick Street in Hartford, was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a pistol, theft of a firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, weapons in a motor vehicle, two counts of sale of narcotics, two counts of illegal possession of narcotics, operating a motor vehicle without a license, misuse of a license plate, and illegal tints.

Sierra was held on $350,000 surety bond.

Perruccio said that while police are trying to avoid bringing suspects back to the police department during the COVID-19 pandemic, in some cases, such as this incident, it’s necessary. “This was a major violation of the public trust,” he said.

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