Darien Man, 23, Charged with Greenwich Gun-for-Drug Deal

Greenwich Police have arrested a Darien man, a second suspect in connection with an alleged gun-or-drug deal that prompted a dragnet in Old Greenwich earlier this week.

According to a police report, the suspect is Todd W. Pleasants, a Darien resident who surrendered to Darien Police about 8:30 p.m., Sept. 25.

Greenwich Police had obtained an arrest warrant charging Todd W. Pleasants, 23, who gave an address of 12 Ledge Rd., Darien, with several counts including first-degree burglary and two counts of involving the illegal transfer of a firearm.

Pleasants was in Greenwich Police custody Thursday morning, unable to post $150,000 bond. He also faces charges of criminal attempt at the illegal transfer of a firearm, conspiracy to commit illegal transfer of a firearm, second-degree larceny, interfering with a police officer, conspiracy and criminal attempt. He was assigned an Oct. 2 appearance date in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Pleasants is the second suspect arrested in connection with the Sept. 23 incident that began on East Putnam Avenue near Ferris Drive. As police moved in to break up an apparent drug deal "for which the currency was a firearm," one of the suspects fled, prompting a large scale manhunt in the Old Greenwich neighborhood. Dozens of officers searched for the suspect along with canine units from the Greenwich, Stamford and Metropolitan Transit Authority police departments, searched for several hours.

That night, police arrested Mark T. Pelazza, 24, who gave an address of 1197 Hope St., Stamford. He was charged with sale of a firearm, conspiracy and criminal attempt. Pelazza remains in custody in lieu of the $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to state Superior Court in Stamford on Oct. 16.