Man Faces Gun Charge After Pistol Is Recovered from Playground Sandbox

A gun that Greenwich Police say was stolen from a town residence and recovered in a sandbox at a Rye Brook, NY park has led to the arrest of a man on a weapons charge.

Greenwich Det. Tony Fiscella said the charge against the suspect from Port Chester, NY stems from the theft of a pistol from a northwest Greenwich home in November 2012.

The pistol exchanged hands and at some point Raul Michaca, 23, of 58 Clark Pl., Port Chester had possession of the pistol, according to Fiscella. With the cooperation of Port Chester and Rye Brook Police, "My partner Pasquale Iorfino and I were able to recover the firearm within a playground in Rye Brook. It was hidden in a sandbox in Garibaldi Park," Fiscella said.

Michaca, who was being held at the Westchester County Correctional Center in Valhalla, NY, waived extradition and was charged on May 14 with carrying a gun without a permit. Michaca posted a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned May 21 in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to the CT Judicial Branch website.

Another suspect in the case, Michael Burke, 22, was charged with fourth-degree larceny and theft of a firearm. That case is awaiting disposition as he serves accelerated rehabilitation, according to the CT Judicial Branch website.