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The bust went down around 8 p.m. Thursday when members of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit received word that a man named "YaYa" was in possession of a gun, said Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin.
After notifying patrol officers they were looking for Yahya Qawi, 49, also known as Pedro Broady, officers spotted him in in front of 72 Spruce St., said Conklin.
Officers headed to the location and were able to grab him at gunpoint once he was on the ground, Conklin said. A gun, a Hi-Point Firearms 9mm pistol was found in a black backpack, as well as a magazine loaded with eight bullets that were not in the gun at the time of his arrest.
Qawi, who has spent years in prison, has five robbery convictions, with most targeting elderly victims. He has also been convicted of burglary, assault, and escape.
"Good work by the squad getting this very violent, repeat offender off the streets," Conklin said. "His arrest makes the community safer."
Qawi was charged with criminal possession of a firearm and is being held on $100,000 bond. Conklin said they plan to ask for a higher bail amount.
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