3rd Suspect Charged In Stafford Pawn Shop Stolen Gun Case

VERNON/STAFFORD, CT — A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the September theft of guns from a Stafford pawn shop.

Wednesday's police action was related to state charges..

On Sept. 15, officers from the Stafford Resident Trooper’s Office were dispatched to the Simon Says Pawn Shop at 44 West Stafford Road for the report of a burglary.

Troopers discovered that seven handguns were taken from the establishment. An investigation involving state, municipal and federal authorities ensued and several warrants were secured, state police said.

On Wednesday, Jonathan McEwen, 30, of Vernon, was served one of the warrants. McEwen was charged with 16 felonies:

• Conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary
• Conspiracy to steal firearms (seven counts)
• Criminal possession of a firearm (seven counts)
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal mischief

Three other suspects have been identified and federally indicted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for various weapons charges related to the case, state police said.

Two days after the burglary, two men were charged locally in Vernon for their antics related to the case, records show.

Police said they received a tip from an informant that two men — later identified as 37-year-old Lawrence McEwan of Vernon and 32-year-old Damien Garcia of Hartford — may have a stolen gun at a West Main Street apartment, according to a report. Word from the informant was that Garcia, who already had a felony warrant on him for a burglary charge, had sold several stolen firearms already (in the Stafford caper) and wanted to sell another, according to reports.

At 6 p.m. on Sept. 17, police encounterd both men, according to a report. They fled and
Garcia surrendered after a few steps, according to reports.

McEwan was chased down and appeared to throw something during the pursiut, according to a report.

A silver Smith & Wesson pistol was later recovered, a report indicates. He also tried to discard a capped hypodermic needle, later recovered in his pocket, according to a report.

The gun was reported stolen from Simon Says.

McEwan was charged with:

• Violation of state pistol permit requirements
• Sixth-degree larceny
• Criminal possession of a firearm
• Use of drug paraphernalia
• Interfering

Garcia was charged with:

• Third-degree burglary
• Sixth-degree larceny

Shortly after the Vernon incident, federal charges were filed agains both men — possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen firearm. Federal prosecutors said Garcia and McEwen have previously been convicted of "multiple felony offenses."