CT felon reportedly found with drugs, ammunition after fleeing traffic stop not intended for him

A convicted felon was found with drugs and ammunition in Waterbury Tuesday when he crashed into two cars, including a police cruiser, as officers initiated a motor vehicle stop directed at a motorist parked in front of him.

Francisco Ogando-Mencia, 22, of Waterbury was arrested shortly before 6 p.m. in the 700 block of East Main Street when his vehicle became disabled following the collisions and officers found that he had 7.3 grams of crack cocaine and “various amounts of firearm ammunition,” according to the Waterbury Police Department. Police said the 22-year-old is a previously convicted felon, which prohibits him from having guns or ammunition.

According to police, officers from the department’s Crime Prevention Unit were patrolling the area of East Main Street Tuesday in response to quality of life complaints tied to weapons and narcotics activity when they spotted a vehicle with multiple motor vehicle violations parked outside 722 East Main St. As police initiated a motor vehicle stop, Ogando-Mencia, who was parked behind the targeted vehicle, recklessly tried driving away and struck a police cruiser and another parked car in the process, which disabled his vehicle, police said.

Ogando-Mencia was arrested after officers found him with drugs and ammo, according to police.

He faces two counts of third-degree criminal mischief and a single count each of criminal possession of ammunition, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, tampering with evidence, interfering with police, disobeying the order of an officer, first-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, failure to display front number plate, failure to have a tinting sticker, unsafe backing, operation of an unregistered motor vehicle and insufficient insurance.

Ogando-Mencia was held on a $150,000 bond and was expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Waterbury Superior Court.