NORWALK, CT — A West Haven man was arrested on multiple charges after a traffic stop revealed a stolen firearm and ammunition in his vehicle.
Fredrick Jerome Pate, 25, of West Haven, was taken into custody March 2 after a Norwalk patrol officer stopped his vehicle for displaying an improper printed temporary registration plate.
Officer Arvanitakis conducted the traffic stop at 10:52 a.m. in the area of 315 Westport Avenue after observing the Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling westbound with the improper plate.
During the stop, police determined Pate was operating with a suspended driver’s license and that the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee was unregistered and uninsured.
A search of the vehicle recovered a 9mm magazine loaded with seven rounds from the rear passenger area.
Officers also located a Taurus Arms G2C 9mm handgun in the trunk of the vehicle with a magazine loaded with fifteen rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Investigation confirmed the firearm had been reported stolen out of Columbus, Ohio.
Police determined Pate was the subject of two separate orders of protection that prohibit him from possessing firearms.
Pate was taken into custody without incident and transported to Norwalk Police Department headquarters for processing.
He was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, negligent storage of a firearm, illegal possession of a large capacity magazine (two counts), violation of an order of protection (two counts), operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and insufficient insurance.
Pate was held on $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 16.
