2 Charged In Newington After Scooter Gang Crackdown: Police

NEWINGTON, CT — Newington police charged two Massachusetts men Saturday evening after officers conducting traffic enforcement related to reckless ATV and scooter activity allegedly found handguns during a motor vehicle stop.

Police said the enforcement operation was launched on May 16 in response to numerous complaints throughout Greater Hartford involving large groups of motorcycles, scooters, and ATVs operating recklessly on public roads.

According to the Newington Police Department, patrol officers observed three unregistered scooters make an unsafe lane change around 6:18 p.m. and initiated a traffic stop.

During the investigation, officers found that two of the scooter operators allegedly possessed 9mm handguns without legal authorization to carry them in Connecticut, police said.

Authorities identified the men as Jose Velazquez, 35, of Fitchburg, Mass., and Alexis Hernandez, 45, of Gardner, Mass.

Velazquez was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Police said Hernandez was charged with weapons in a motor vehicle, failure to drive in the proper lane, improper use of a marker plate, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Both men were released on $25,000 non-surety bonds and are scheduled to appear June 1 in New Britain Superior Court.

Police also said officers stopped several additional vehicles during the operation and removed about 12 illegal vehicles from Newington roadways.