(Bridgeport, CT – April 9, 2013) – Two felons denied ownership of a firearm located in their car Monday after a motor vehicle stop.  Officers Ian Schumaker and Adrian Elem pulled the vehicle over at 3:40 a.m. after they witnessed the driver, Carlos Martinez, 28, run a red light on State Street.

The officers discovered that Martinez had a suspended license so he was removed from the car. The officers then discovered that the passenger, Raymond Sierra, 19, also had a suspended license. He also was removed from the car so it could be towed.  When they inventoried the car, they located a pistol under the passenger seat of the car. Both denied it belonged to them.  In a bag, officers found an ammunition magazine that contained nine rounds. They also found five white pills which, based on the markings, were determined to be oxycodone.  Police also learned that the license plate on the car was stolen.

Both men were charged with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit and possession of narcotics. Martinez also was charged with motor vehicle violations.  Bond on the drug and weapons counts was set at $25,000 each.