Police Seize Pistol, Drugs From Driver After Shot Fired in Hartford: PD

A man is facing charges after officers found drugs and a pistol in his car during a motor vehicle stop and he admitted to firing the gun earlier in an area where police were investigating at least one gunshot fired, police said.

The Hartford Police Department's ShotSpotter system detected at least one gunshot fired in the area of 457 Park Street in Hartford. Police responded to the area at about 12:14 a.m.

Then at 12:48, police in the South Conditions Unit stopped a car at 435 Capital Avenue. They spotted narcotics and arrested driver Rafael Martinez, 33, of Hartford, as they searched his car.

Police found a Sig Sauer P226 pistol behind the passenger seat. When officers were interviewing Martinez, he admitted to firing the pistol earlier in the area of 457 Park Street, police said.

Police seized the firearm, eight small bags of cocaine packaged to be sold and $153 in cash.

Police charged Martinez with carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of narcotics, possession with intent to sell, possession with intent to sell within 1,500 square feet of a school and a stop sign violation.

Further information on the incident involving gunfire was not immediately available.

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