WEST HAVEN — A routine patrol by a West Haven police officer on the evening of April 6 led to the discovery of a cache of weapons, drugs, and cash, resulting in the arrest of a New Haven man, authorities said.
The officer, who was on duty in the area of Campbell Avenue and Wharton Street, noticed a suspicious vehicle with multiple motor vehicle violations and initiated a stop on Spring Street.
During the investigation, the officer called for backup from the West Haven Police Street Crime Unit and its narcotics detection K9, Hanny.
K9 Hanny alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, prompting an extensive search.
The search revealed a SCCY 9mm handgun with ammunition, a Taurus .357 revolver with ammunition, 51 bags of suspected fentanyl, 19 grams of suspected cocaine, 12 grams of suspected crack cocaine, five ecstasy pills, a large quantity of ammunition, narcotic-related packaging materials and paraphernalia, and $3,156 in U.S. currency, among other items.
The driver, identified as Tyjuan Branham, born March 4, 1990, from New Haven, was found to have a criminal record with past firearm convictions.
As a registered Deadly Weapon Offender, Branham is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Despite this, Branham resisted arrest and struggled with the officers before being subdued and taken into custody.
Branham faces multiple charges, including two counts of criminal possession of a pistol/revolver, violation of deadly weapon offender requirements, two counts of possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, two counts of illegal transfer of a firearm, two counts of criminal possession of ammunition, possession of narcotics with intent to sell (second offense), operation of a drug factory, possession of a controlled substance (second offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief first degree, and interfering with an officer, along with several motor vehicle offenses.
The West Haven Police Department has not released further details regarding the ongoing investigation.
Branham’s court date is yet to be announced.
