18-Year-Old Pistol-Whipped Juvenile; Gets Arrested On Gun, Assault Charges: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — An 18-year-old man accused of pistol-whipping a juvenile was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond after being arrested on gun-related and assault charges, according to police.

Meriden police received multiple reports in September regarding Jhoan Alejandro Almeida-Cando, 18, being in the possession of an illegal firearm, according to Lt. Darrin McKay.

McKay said in one incident, Almeida-Cando was accused of confronting a juvenile on a city sidewalk and striking the juvenile in the head with a firearm, causing physical injury.

Members of the Crime Suppression Unit, Major Crimes Unit, and Evidence Identification Unit found Almeida-Cando on Oct. 2 as he got out of a vehicle in the area of Pratt Street, according to McKay. Almeida-Cando ran after seeing the detectives, but McKay said he was quickly apprehended.

Police found an illegal 9mm Polymer firearm without a serial number in the vehicle Almeida-Cando was seen leaving, according to McKay.

McKay said Almeida-Cando doesn’t have a valid pistol permit and is legally prohibited from carrying a firearm.

Almeida-Cando was charged with interfering with police, carrying a pistol without a permit, weapon in motor vehicle, and possession of ghost gun. He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

After his apprehension, McKay said an arrest warrant was served on Almeida-Cando in connection with the pistol-whipping case. He was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, second-degree assault with a firearm, and risk of injury to a minor. He was held in lieu of an additional $100,000 bond.