MONROE, CT — Two suspects linked to a “smash and grab” burglary of Grassy Plain Smoke Shop, 838 Main St., early Wednesday morning were arrested in a traffic stop in Newtown with two loaded guns in the black Nissan Sentra they were driving.
Marcos Scott, 19, of 48 Truman St. in New Haven, was charged with third-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny and released to the Newtown Police Department to be processed on weapons charges. He has an Aug. 4 court date.
A 17-year-old male juvenile from Bridgeport, who police said was driving the Nissan, was issued a juvenile summons for third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny, an altered firearm, possession of a firearm without a permit and a weapon in a motor vehicle. He was released to his mother.
Monroe officers responded to a burglar alarm at Grassy Plain Smoke Shop at 1:15 a.m., where glass in the front door had been smashed and a large rock was found on the floor inside, police said.
Because of the store’s close proximity to Newtown, officers immediately notified that town’s police department about the burglary.
A police investigation determined entry was made to the business and officers found multiple packs of rolling papers outside on the sidewalk and the ground, as well as on the floor of inside.
The owner of Grassy Plain Smoke Shop arrived at his store and told officers $200 had been stolen from the cash register and rolling papers were missing, though he did not have an exact number.
He accessed the store’s video surveillance system, which showed a black Nissan Sentra pull up in front of the smoke shop. A man got out of the front passenger seat with a large rock and threw it at the front door several times until it broke. He entered the store, then the driver got out of the Nissan and followed him in.
After exiting the store both males headed north on Route 25 in the Nissan, toward Newtown.
At 1:36 a.m. Newtown police notified Monroe officers that a black Nissan Sentra was stopped in their town with two Black males inside the vehicle who appeared to be very nervous.
They said the males matched the description of the suspects, wearing the same clothing and traveling in the same vehicle in the video.
Monroe officers went to the Newtown Police Department where a check of the vehicle showed two firearms, one a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P9 with six rounds in the magazine under driver’s seat, and the other a Century Arms TP9SF Elite firearm in a black bag on the floor behind driver’s seat with three rounds in the magazine, according to police.
Police determined the Smith & Wesson M&P9 belonged to a parent of Scott’s and said the serial number of the other gun had been scratched off. Rolling papers and two vape pens were also found inside the vehicle, police said.
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