MERIDEN — During the month of September, the Meriden Police Department received multiple reports regarding a male in possession of an illegal firearm.
The individual was identified as Jhoan Alejandro Almeida-Cando, 18.
During one incident, Almeida-Cando was alleged to have confronted a juvenile victim on a city sidewalk in Meriden.
During the confrontation, he struck the juvenile in the head with a firearm, causing physical injury.
On Oct. 2, members of the Crime Suppression Unit, Major Crimes Unit, and Evidence Identification Unit located Almeida-Cando as he exited a vehicle in the area of Pratt Street.
Upon seeing the detectives, Almeida-Cando fled on foot but was quickly apprehended.
A search of the vehicle Almeida-Cando was seen exiting revealed a 9mm Polymer firearm without a serial number, in violation of Connecticut state law.
Almeida-Cando does not possess 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 and was held on a $1 million bond.
After his apprehension, an arrest warrant was served on Almeida-Cando for the pistol-whipping case.
Almeida-Cando was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, assault in the second degree with a firearm, and risk of injury to a minor.
An additional $100,000 court set bond was attached to this case.
