West Haven police arrest New Haven man on assault, drug, domestic charges

WEST HAVEN — Police arrested a New Haven man over the weekend on assault, drug and firearms charges following a domestic disturbance.

The victim said she knew Luis Manuel Rivera, 31, of 87 Welton St. in New Haven. She told police Friday that while in a parked vehicle, Rivera punched and choked her and pressed a gun against her face while threatening her, police said in a news release.

She also told police Rivera had taken her car without her permission.

A temporary arrest warrant was issued for Rivera as a result of the incident and associated felony charges, police said. On Saturday, police saw the vehicle in a parking lot at 323 Center St., the release said.

Police found Rivera in a nearby apartment house and detained him. After obtaining consent to search the apartment Rivera was located and police found numerous drug-related items as well as five handguns and ammunition, the release said.

Two of the guns were later confirmed to have been stolen — including one from the Hartford area and one from Pennsylvania. Police also seized drug-packaging supplies and equipment and 14.2 ounces of suspected marijuana with a street value of about $8,000, police said.

The apartment Rivera was in was within 1,500 feet of a childcare facility, the West Haven Community House, which is at 227 Elm St., police said.

Rivera, a convicted felon who is on probation, cooperated at the scene and was taken into custody on six counts of criminal possession of a firearm, ammunition or defense weapon; two counts of stealing a firearm; two counts of illegal sale or purchase of large-capacity magazines; three counts of possession of a controlled substance or less than a half ounce of marijuana; two counts of sale of narcotics; and one count each of operating a drug factory, use of drug paraphernalia and sale of a controlled substance.

He also is charged with third-degree assault, first-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree strangulation.