West Hartford Police stopped a vehicle with heavily tinted windows, and charged two people after discovering drugs and weapons inside.

Jimmy Gonzalez (left) and Barbara Rodriguez. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

By Ronni Newton

A West Hartford Police Department Community Interaction Team officer stopped a vehicle Tuesday because it had heavily tinted windows, and two of the three occupants were arrested on multiple charges.

According to police, a vehicle was stopped on Flatbush Avenue near the intersection with Newfield at 12:08 p.m. Tuesday. The officer reportedly smelled burnt marijuana, and the driver, Barbara Rodriguez, 28, of West Hartford, admitted to having a blunt according to the police report.

Police asked all three occupants to step out of the vehicle and said that the passenger in the backseat, Jimmy Gonzalez, 23, of Hartford, was observed with the handle of a handgun sticking out of his waistband. Gonzalez was “taken to the ground and handcuffed,” police said in a report, and the weapon fell to the ground.

Police recovered the weapon, a fully-loaded Colt Python .357 handgun, and six rounds. Police searched the vehicle and also found a sum of cash totaling $2,936, 39 bags (12.2 grams) of crack cocaine, and 4.8 grams of marijuana.

Gonzalez was charged with possession with intent to distribute, possession of narcotics, carrying a gun without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, conspiracy to possess narcotics, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute. He is being held on $250,000 surety bond.

Rodriguez, who was the driver of the vehicle, was charged with driving with a suspended license, tinted windows, possession with intent to distribute, possession of narcotics, conspiracy to possess narcotics, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute. She posted a $15,000 surety bond and was released.

The third occupant of the vehicle was released at the scene and was not named by police.

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