West Hartford Police located a vehicle Friday afternoon that had previously refused to for officers, and arrested the driver and passenger on a slew of weapons, drug, and motor vehicle charges.

By Ronni Newton

Members of the West Hartford Police Department’s Community Service Unit (CSU) located a vehicle Friday afternoon that had refused to stop at the request of a patrol unit the previous week, and both the driver and passenger, two Hartford men in their early 20s, are in custody on a slew of charges related to illicit weapons and drugs that were found in the vehicle.

Assistant Chief Larry Terra said in an email Saturday that on Friday, July 18, at 12:56 p.m., West Hartford’s Flock camera system alerted members of CSU to the presence of the vehicle that had previously evaded officers, parked near 450 New Park Avenue in West Hartford.

CSU members successfully made an investigative stop of the vehicle, Terra said, and inside the car found a loaded 3D-printed 9mm “ghost gun,” a loaded .38 revolver, 46 bags of fentanyl, 2.1 grams of powder cocaine, 5.7 grams of “crack” cocaine, 3.2 ounces of marijuana, and an undisclosed quantity of U.S. currency. Two license plates were also found in the vehicle, which was unregistered.

Police arrested both the driver and the passenger.

Michael Grady. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

Michael Grady, 21, of Hartford, who was the driver of the vehicle, has been charged with criminal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, illegal possession of a firearm with no serial number, interfering with police, violating a standing criminal protective order, misused plates, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without insurance, and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Grady, whose previous record according to online court documents includes arrests on domestic charges as well as possession of drugs and risk of injury to a minor, is being held on $350,000 bond awaiting arraignment at GA-14.

Joshua Benitez-Singh. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

Joshua Benitez-Singh, 22, of Hartford, has been charged with illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit, possession with intent to sell a hallucinogen, and possession of more than 1.5 ounces of cannabis plant material.

Court records from Connecticut visible online do not indicate any prior arrests or convictions for Benitez-Singh, who is also being held on $350,000 bond awaiting arraignment at GA-14.

Police ask that anyone with information related to this investigation call the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203, or use the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].

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