West Hartford Police conducted a stop of a vehicle being driven by a Hartford man with an outstanding warrant, and located a illegal handgun and live ammunition.

Weapon and ammunition recovered by West Hartford Police on Nov. 9, 2025. Courtesy of West Hartford Police Department

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police Ofc. Brian Delgrande stopped a vehicle last week because the registered owner had an outstanding arrest warrant, the driver now faces multiple additional charges after being found with an illegal weapon and ammunition.

Delgrande, assisted by his partner K-9 Lotti, stopped a vehicle on Nov. 9, 2025, in the area of New Park and Flatbush avenues. The vehicle was registered to Erwin Rivera, 50, of Hartford, who had an active arrest warrant out of New Britain for violation of a protective order, Capt. Aaron Vafiades said Tuesday.

According to police, in the vehicle Delgrande and Lotti located a Glock 34 .357 handgun that was equipped with a “Glock switch”/auto sear affixed to the side – a device that permits the weapon to fire continuously.

Rivera, who was the driver of the vehicle stopped by police, was also in possession of a magazine loaded with 15 live rounds, police said.

Rivera was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of an assault weapon, illegal alteration of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle, violation of a protective order, and operating a vehicle under suspension.

According to online court records, Rivera was released after posting a $500,000 surety bond on the Nov. 9 charges by West Hartford Police, as well as posting $30,000 bond for the violation of the protective order charge out of New Britain.

He is due in Hartford Superior Court on Dec. 22 to face the weapons and other charges from West Hartford Police, and also due in court in New Britain on Jan. 29, 2026 on the violation of protective order charges, online records show.

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