New Haven Man, 30, Charged With Gun, Drug Possession: Police

NEW HAVEN, CT — Police arrested a 30-year-old New Haven man Monday night charging him with gun and drug possession. Richard Smith also had an active warrant, police said.

According to a news release from police spokesperson Scott Shumway, at around 9 p.m, they were called to Sherman Avenue, between Elm and Maple streets for a report of a “suspicious car.” When officers got there, Shumway said, they recognized the car, and its driver, from a “previous incident” and after a search of the car, found a semi-automatic handgun and a “variety of controlled substances.”

Smith was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a pistol, carrying a pistol without a permit, having a weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, Shumway said.

The passenger in the car, who police identified as Joavonna Austin, 30, was also arrested on active warrants in both Waterbury and Wallingford, Shumway said.

Smith, held on $300,000 bond, was taken to be arraigned in Superior Court, Shumway said.