Officer Bryce Sniffs Out Trouble

Officer Keron Bryce saw a driving violation. Then he smelled weed. In the end, he found an illegal gun as well as the works of an alleged credit card fraud operation.

Bryce recovered the latter items and made an arrest during a traffic stop in Hamden this past Saturday at around 1:30 a.m.

Bryce, who grew up in Hamden, was known for such recoveries and high-profile work as a New Haven cop (during which time he became an Independent ​“Cop of the Week” three times in five years). Hamden’s force lured him away last year.

Bryce pulled over the driver on Bowen Street near Cherry Ann.

He said in an interview that he saw the driver blow a stop sign. Plus, a brake light was out.

“My sixth sense kicked in,” Bryce said.

He pulled the car over. ​“I smelled the weed,” he said.

He had to ask the man three times to get out of the car. That furthered the officer’s suspicions.

When the man finally got out, Bryce asked if he was carrying anything. The man said yes — and Bryce found a loaded firearm in his waistband, he said.

Then he checked the car. He said he found a box with a credit card reproduction device in it, plus blank credit cards.

The driver, a 20-year-old man from Waterbury, was charged with having weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine, unlawful completion of reproduction of credit cards, along with motor vehicle offenses.

Bryce has been on the Hamden force a little over a year. This was his fourth gun arrest, he said.

Suspect Goes Shopping

Meanwhile, police are asking for help locating the woman pictured here at the Home Depot at 1873 Dixwell Ave. in Hamden. She allegedly stole $634.42 worth of power tools, then made off in an older-model tan Mercury with tinted windows along with a man with whom she allegedly has hit other Home Depots in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Anyone with information about them is asked to call Officer Kyle Sampognaro at (203) 230‑4030.

And if you know anything about this guy in the Punisher T‑shirt, please contact Officer Paul Calamita at (203) 230‑4030. He allegedly made off with a carton of cigarettes from the Krauszer’s at 3300 Whintey Ave. in Hamden before making off in a red Honda Accord.