Round Hill Road warrant

INCIDENT/INVESTIGATION REPORT Meriden Police Department

cA : 20-005054

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On 913n.020, rne~bers of the Menden Pohce Department, the New Haven Police Department and the DEA initiated an investigation mto the illegal possession/storage of a firearm at a residence in Meriden, CT. During this investigation, members of the New Haven Police Department received credible information that a green color AR-15 style rifle along with firearm ammunition was being illegally stored at the residence of 58 Round Hill Road, Meriden, CT. Members of the New Haven Police Department determined Giovanni Fassett (9/6/1991) resides at the residence and a State Police Records check revealed Giovanru is a convicted felon and is unable to possess a fireann. Another male who was identified as Nicholas Rivera (02/20/1998) was also said to reside at the residence. A Meriden Police in house records check revealed no firearms were registered to 58 Round Hill Road, Meriden, CT. As a result of this investigation, members of the New Haven Police Department drafted a search and seizure warrant for the residence of 58 Round Hill Road, Meriden, CT which was signed by the Honorable Judge Spader.

On 9/3/2020, at approximately 1626 hours, Members of the Meriden Police Department, the New Haven Police Department and the DEA executed a search and seizure warrant for illegal firearms at the residence of 58 Round Hill Road, Meriden, CT. Due to the high risk assessment, the Meriden Police Department's SWAT team was used to make entry and secure the residence. At the time of this operation, all members of the Meriden SWAT Team were wearing exterior tactical vests carriers with the word "POLICE" clearly displayed on the front and rear of their vest malcing all members of the SWAT Team clearly identifiable police officers.

On arrival, members of the Meriden SWAT Team positioned an armored personnel carrier on the front lawn of the residence and utilized a public address system to order all occupants out of the residence of 58 Round Hill Road. While these commands were being given, members of the SWAT Team were advised that several males ran out of the rear of the residence; these males were detained several yards away by perimeter units and identified as Calvin Fassett (8/26/2000), Nicholas Rivera (2/20/1998) and Diego Garro (4/17/2001). It should be noted that the rear of this residence has one back door which leads to the kitchen of the residence and this is the rear door all t.gree males exited when they fled from the residence. Perimeter units conducted a debrief with all three males who at the time would not provide any further information as to whether or not there were any other occupants in the residence.

Additional verbal commands were given and after receiving no response from anyone inside, members of the SWAT Team eventually deployed a chemical agent into the residence. Members of the SWAT Team continued giving commands ordering any other occupants out of the residence, however; no one came out of the residence. At this time the decision was made to enter and clear the residence. The residence was safely cleared and no additional occupants were located inside. At this time the residence was secured and turned over to members of the detective division. l

At this time a systematic search of the residence was conducted. Members of the Meriden Police Department's Evidence Unit took overall photographs of the residence and all evidence seized. The following items were seized from the residence: Located on the kitchen floor was a black duffel bag and a tan canvass bag. The black duffel bag was open and located in the bag was an assortment of20 gauge and 12 gauge shotgun shells. Also in the bag was (2) - twenty round AR-15 rifle magazines, (27) . "300" blackout .556 rounds of ammunition, (I) - 30 round high capacity 9mm pistol magazine and (4) - 9mm high capacity pistol magazines.

The tan canvass bag which was also on the kitchen floor was open and located inside of the bag was an SKS rifle (serial 29003308) and a Mossberg 12 gauge sawed off shotgun (serial# 1335140). The barrel on the shotgun is a total length of approximately 15 ½ inches and per CT Law a shotgun barrel cannot be less than 18 inches. Also in the bag was one bag containing (27) - 7.62 rounds of ammunition, (2) • .38 special rounds of ammunition, (1) - 12 gauge shotgun shell and (I) - 300 SA V round of ammunition. The SKS rifle is capable of accepting a detachable ammunition magazine and according to CT State Law this rifle has the characteristics of assault weapon.

Located under the kitchen sink was a green colored .556x45 AR-1 5 rifle (no serial number). This AR-15 is a semi-automatic ri fle that accep~ a detachable magazin~ ~at is capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. This rifle also has a pistol grip and accordmg to CT State Law this nfle has the characteristics of assault weapon.

Located_on top of the microwave next to the rear exit door was a green colored 9 mm polymer SO pistol and next to the pistol was ~o rou nd high capacity magazine. The pistol was stamped with number PF94056 which is not believed to be a serial number..

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.d By: 399. 09/04n 020 02:27

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INCIDENT/INVESTIGATION REPORT Meriden Police Department

, roaster in the kitchen was (I) - 20 round AR-15 rifle magazine. On the floor below the toaster was a Chase Tactical plate ~ch contained ballistic. armor. This plate carrier was stolen from a police officer's vehicle during the month of July 2020. The ,n,1

c:,mer is valued ~ ap~roxunate~ $2,000. A photograph of the plate carrier was sent to the owner who confirmed that the carrier was ,id he was able to identify the earner due to the fact that he had aftermarket quick disconnect tabs which the owner put on th~ annored id-carrier.

iocated on the kitchen counter was an I-Phone and proof ofresidence for Nicholas Rivera. Located in Nicholas's room was (I) - 9mm rounds of ammunition which was on top of a dresser. Located in an additional bedroom was ( 1) - discharged shotgun shell, ( 1) - 9 mm ( round of ammunition and (8) ounces of marijuana. Located outside in the rear of the residence was a bag containing (24) - .38 special rounds of ammunition. All the firearms seized were ran in NCIC and came back with no information.

Jt should be noted that the black duffel bag and the tan canvass bag were both on the kitchen floor and were both open allowing the contents of the each bag to be seen in plain view. The pistol and the extended magazine that were located on the microwave in the kitchen were also in plain view. 'Ibis kitchen is very small and anyone who was inside of the kitchen would have been aware that these fireanns were present It is believed that all three males had knowledge that these firearms were present because once police announcements were made for the occupants of the residence to exit the residence, all three males exited the rear of the residence and fled on foot. The door used to exit the residence leads to the kitchen which indicates all three males were in the kitchen and aware that the :fireanns were present.

Furthermore, when all three males heard police announcements to exit the residence, instead of complying with our commands all three males fled out the rear of the residence and began running through the neighboring yards and onto other people's property before being detained by police. A copy of page five of the search warrant was left at the residence and the residence was released to the owner. The evidence unit transported all evidence back to Meriden Police Headquarters. Calvin, Nicholas and Diego were all placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. It should be noted in addition to on site charges Diago had an active PRAWN warrant for failure to respond to an infraction.

Once at police headquarters Detective Dorais and I conducted an audio recorded interview with Nicholas Rivera. Nicholas was read his Miranda Rights, completed and signed a rights waiver fonn and agreed to speak to Detective Dorais and me. A brief summary o(the interview is as follows: Nicholas stated he arrived home at his residence at approximately 1600 hours. Nicholas's cousin, Calvin Fassett came to his residence with his friend Diego. Nicholas stated he was in his room when he heard several doors in his residence close. Nicholas stated he recognized the sound of his basement door closing because the door makes a distinct sound. Nicholas stated he then entered the kitchen at which time he saw Calvin and Diego in the kitchen and saw bags containing firearms. Calvin was holding the green pistol with the extended magazine and Diego was holding the SKS rifle. It was at this time Nicholas heard police announcements and they all fled out the rear of the residence Once at police headquarters Detective Dorais and I conducted an audio recorded interview with Diego Garro. Diego was read his Miranda Rights, completed and signed a rights waiver form and agreed to speak to Detective Dorais and me. A brief summary of the interview is as follows: Diego stated Calvin picked him up and they went to Calvin's cousin's house in Meriden. At first Diego stated he had no knowledge that firearm_s were inside of the residence but eventually admitted that prior to police arrival he was holding the SKS rifle. Diego also admitted to h~ldrng the AR-15 rifle and stated when he heard police commands he put the AR-15 rifle under the kitchen sink. Diego did not wish to proVJde any other information. ~ce at po~ice headquarters Detective Dorais and I conducted an audio recorded interview with Calvin Fassett. Calvin was read his :'1rran_da ~ghts, completed and signed a rights waiver form and agreed to speak to Detective Dorais and me. A brief summary of the mtemew 1s as follows: ~alvin s~ated he ~ent to his cousin' ~house with Diego which is located at 58 Round Hill Road. According to Calvin all of the fireanns ocatedd dm the re~idence belong to Nicholas. Calvin admitted that he held the SKS rifle and was holding the polymer pistol with the exten e magazine when police arri d C I · d h · · . h I th ve . a vm state w en pohce began making commands for the occupants to exit the residence N 1c o as ran out e rear of the res·d h II · · 1 ence so e ran as we . Calvm provided written consent to conduct a search of 'his rental Toyota' R_CS2IBR

By: 399, 09/04/2020 02:27

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INCIDENT/INVESTIGATION REPORT ocA : 2o-005054

Meriden Police Department

which was parked in the driveway of 58 round Hill road. A search of the Toyota produced Calvin's cell which was seized as 'dence- It should be noted that Calvin is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Calvin also admitted to his .e:olvement in a shooting incident that occurred in Meriden on 9/112020 where he admitted to shooting a male in a parking lot of the Red

:ooflnn. This case is actively being investigated.

All three males consented to a buccal swab submission which was collected by Detective Hancort.

Nicholas was charged with the charges listed at the beginning of this narrative and held on a $750,000 bond and assigned a court date of 9/17/2020, at Meriden Court.

Calvin Fassett was charged with the charges listed at the beginning of this narrative and held on a one million dollar bond and assigned a court date of 9/1712020, at Meriden Court.

Diego Garro was charged with the charges listed at the beginning of this narrative and held on a one million dollar bond and assigned a court date of 9/17/2020, at Meriden Court.

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By: 399, 09/04/2020 02:27