MERIDEN, CT — A convicted felon was arrested on multiple firearms charges after weapons were discovered in a storage unit bin that had been cleaned out for nonpayment.
Toby Brown, 44, of Meriden, was taken into custody on Nov. 4 with the assistance of Adult Probation at their office in New Britain.
The investigation began on Dec. 12, 2024, when the Meriden Police Department received a call from Just Storage located at 578 West Main Street.
Staff members reported that a handgun had fallen out of a plastic bin while they were moving it from a unit that had been cleaned out for nonpayment.
Officers who responded to the scene found the bin contained several firearms and ammunition.
Detective McKenna was assigned to investigate the incident further.
An inventory of the bin revealed five handguns, including one with an obliterated serial number, over 200 rounds of various calibers of ammunition, firearm accessories and a “Glock Switch.”
A “Glock Switch” is an aftermarket auto sear device that is installed into a Glock-style handgun and converts the handgun to an automatic weapon.
After an investigation, probable cause was established to determine Brown was the owner of the firearms and associated items in the bin.
Brown is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms.
An arrest warrant was submitted and signed by a judge.
Brown was charged with five counts of criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a rate fire enhancement, alteration of firearm serial number, illegal transfer of a firearm and criminal possession of ammunition.
A judge set bond at $350,000.
Brown posted bond and was released.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 18.
