Police: CT man wanted for parole violation found with gun, ‘large amount’ of drugs during traffic stop

A man wanted for allegedly violating his parole was arrested last week in Willimantic and found with a large amount of drugs and a gun, police said.

Edwin Bristol, 39, of Willimantic was taken into custody Friday on charges of possession of a controlled substance, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Willimantic Police Department.

He was remanded into state Department of Correction custody based on the alleged parole violation and was expected to face a judge in Danielson Superior Court on Monday.

According to Willimantic police, officers on Friday at about 8:30 p.m. were on a directed patrol in the area of Ash and North Streets upon learning that Bristol was residing in the area and was wanted as a fugitive for violating his parole. Police pulled over a gold sedan after the driver committed multiple motor vehicle violations and found Bristol inside the vehicle, police said.

A K-9 unit was then used to determine that there were drugs in the car, according to police. During a search of the vehicle, police reported finding a “large amount of suspected heroin and crack cocaine” that was packaged for sale as well as a .380 caliber handgun.

The gun was the 12th illegal firearm Willimantic police have seized this year and the second such gun taken off the streets within the last week.

“The Willimantic Police Department has zero tolerance for illegal gun violence in our community, and anyone with information on illegal firearms in the City of Willimantic is encouraged to contact the Willimantic police,” Willimantic Police Chief Paul M. Hussey said in a statement Monday.