West Hartford PD K-9 Plays Role In Nabbing Illegal Weapons Suspect: Police

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local police said the department's police dog played a key role in the WHPD sniffing out a potentially dangerous weapon during a traffic stop last week.

According to the West Hartford Police Department, Erwin Rivera, 50, of Hartford, was charged Nov. 9 with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of an assault weapon, illegal alteration of a firearm, having weapons in a motor vehicle, violation of a protective order, and operating a vehicle while under suspension.

Rivera was arraigned in Hartford Superior Court last week and has been released on $500,000 bond, according to online court records.

He will next appear in court on Dec. 22.

According to the WHPD, Rivera was wanted by the New Britain Police Department for violation of a protective order.

That led to WHPD Officer Brian Delgrande of the West Hartford Police Department’s Patrol Division and K-9 Unit stopping Rivera's vehicle in town on Nov. 9.

During the stop, police said Delgrande and his K-9, Lotti, located a Glock 34 .357 handgun (Gen 4) equipped with a “Glock switch”/auto sear affixed to the slide, along with a magazine loaded with 15 live rounds.

This led to Rivera being taken into custody and booked on several charges.