S.W.A.T. finds stolen assault rifle in Meriden apt.

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A Meriden man was arrested after a S.W.A.T. team discovered a stolen assault rifle inside his home Wednesday.

Around 10:30 Wednesday night, Meriden Police and Meriden S.W.A.T. executed a search and seizure warrant on the 2nd floor of 243 Kensington Ave.

The S.W.A.T. team was brought in since police had received information that there may be an illegal AR-15 assault rifle in the apartment.

Upon arrival, police found six people inside the home, as well as a "Bushmaster" model XM15 .223 assault rifle (AR-15).

Police said the rifle was located in a rifle case underneath a bed. Also inside the gun case were two 30 round magazines loaded with 31 rounds each, a fully-loaded 10 round magazine, 211 other loose .223 rounds, and 17 rounds of .380 handgun ammunition.

After running a check on the weapon, police determined it was stolen out of Coventry in 2009.

As a result of the search, 26-year-old Waldemar Nieves, of 243 Kensington Ave., was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen firearm and hindering prosecution.

He is being held on $150,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on January 14, 2013.

Police said the stolen AR-15 belongs to 22-year-old Ralph Falcon, of 76 Arch Parkway, Meriden. Falcon was arrested earlier this month on unrelated charges and is currently in jail.