Teen Found With Loaded Ghost Gun Near City Playground, Stamford Police Say

STAMFORD, CT — A Stamford teenager was found with a loaded ghost gun near a city playground in the early morning hours of Aug. 30, according to police.

Joshua Arce, 19, was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of ammunition, illegal transfer of a firearm, nine counts of violation of a protective order, manufacturing a firearm, acquisition without a serial number, and trespassing, according to Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin.

An off-duty member of the Stamford Police Department Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad received information early in the morning on Aug. 30 that Arce was in possession of an illegal gun in Mill River Park near a playground, Conklin said.

The officer transferred the information and a description of the suspect to the SPD's patrol division on the midnight shift, and officers responded shortly after 2 a.m. and found Arce where he was reported to be, Conklin said.

A loaded 9mm ghost gun was found in Arce's backpack, Conklin noted, adding he was also in possession of loose ammunition. Ghost guns are virtually untraceable, and can be made through 3D printing or with parts purchased online.

The trespass charge stemmed from the fact that Arce was located near a sign that noted Mill River Park's hours as being from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Conklin explained.

Arce appeared in court on Sept. 2 and had his bond raised from $100,000 to $160,000.

"This was a good collaborative effort," Conklin said. "Narcotics and Organized Crime mined and obtained this intel. Even though [the officer] wasn't working, they were able to forward this to officers who responded immediately and made this very important arrest."

Conklin said it's unclear why Arce was in the area of the park during the early morning hours.