Another Bristol Man Faces Drug, Weapons Charges

Another Bristol man, 32, also enrolled as a student at Roger Williams University in Bristol, has been charged with growing marijuana and possessing a dangerous firearm by Bristol police. 

Esteban Gonzalez, of 15 Thompson Ave., Apt. 2, was arrested on Dec. 6 and appeared in Sixth District Court on Monday, Dec. 9, to face the charges. He was held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Police said they went to his apartment to speak with him about the narcotics investigation that involves Jaret Moskal of Bristol, another university student who faces eight narcotics and weapons charges.

Police said they learned that Moskal had gone to Gonzalez’s apartment before his initial arrest on Nov. 25 and that Moskal had been staying with Gonzalez following his release from the ACI because the Washington Street house he was renting was closed off after a fire on Nov. 25.

The investigation determined that Moskal and Gonzalez had a close relationship, which Gonzalez confirmed, according to Bristol police.

The arrest report indicates that police officers smelled the distinctive odor of marijuana as soon as they entered the apartment. Gonzalez consented to a search of his apartment, according to the arrest report.

Police found a clear glass smoking water bong and two industrial lamps set up in the corner of a room on top of an end table, according to the arrest report. Under the lamps was a small piece of aluminum foil with what appeared to be fresh clippings of marijuana on it. 

The lamps were arranged in a way consistent with lamps used in the growing of marijuana plants indoors, according to the arrest report. Inside a closet in Gonzalez’s bedroom, police also found a “mature marijuana plant that was producing harvestable marijuana.”

When Gonzalez was asked if he removed the plant from under the lamps before allowing officers inside the apartment, he said: "yes," according to the arrest report. Also found in the closet was a 22-caliber Mossburg assault-style rifle with ammunition.

Police also found in a filing cabinet a large clear bag containing about 3.5 ounces of marijuana. Sitting on a table next to the filing cabinet was a silver grinder, police said. Located on the kitchen counter just outside the office was a box of Ziploc freezer bags, consistent with the type used to contain a larger quantity of fresh marijuana.