Vehicle Stolen In Branford Recovered In Westport; 'Ghost Gun' Also Seized By Police

WESTPORT, CT — Police in Westport Monday night arrested an 18-year-old and three juveniles after officers recovered a stolen vehicle and an unregistered firearm, authorities said.

According to police, officers received alerts around 8:52 p.m. from a stationary license plate reader indicating that a reported stolen vehicle had been detected in the Saugatuck area.

An officer located the vehicle, a Toyota Scion reported stolen from Branford over the weekend, traveling north on Saugatuck Avenue. Police said officers followed the vehicle and, with assistance from a second patrol car, blocked its path near Riverside Avenue and Post Road West, where they conducted a high-risk traffic stop.

All four occupants complied with officers’ commands, according to Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso.

"A subsequent search of the passenger compartment yielded a firearm that was located on the rear floor just below the driver’s seat," Prezioso said, adding that the weapon is a "ghost gun," which described as a firearm, "assembled from assorted parts and did not have a serial number."

— The "ghost gun" seized by Westport police during the arrests of four people in a stolen vehicle Monday night. Photo credit: Westport Police Department

The gun contained a loaded magazine with one live round, according to police.

The male juveniles were charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle. They were released to their parents and are scheduled to appear in juvenile court at a later date.

Also arrested was Jermell Elmore, 18, of West Haven, on charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, illegal possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit illegal possession of a firearm.

Elmore was held on a $20,000 bond and was expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court.