Man charged with pistol-whipping woman, child

BRIDGEPORT — A local man being sought after he allegedly escaped from a halfway house where he was serving a sentence on gun charges is accused of pistol-whipping a woman and her young daughter.

Bert Carter, 27, was arrested Thursday night after police said he led them on a chase through yards on Park Avenue.

He was charged with third-degree assault, risk of injury to a child, firstdegree reckless endangerment, possession of narcotics and gun charges.

During Carter’s arraignment hearing Friday, Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo ordered Carter held in lieu of $350,000 bond after Assistant State’s Attorney Edward Lee Miller pointed out that Carter already had a previous escape conviction when he allegedly escaped from the halfway house in March.

The judge continued the case to Aug. 7.

On June 10, police said they were notified of an altercation on a city sidewalk.

Police said a woman told them that Carter had confronted her and began beating her in the head with a handgun. When the woman’s 7-year-old daughter ran to protect her mother, police said Carter began beating the girl with the gun, too.

Police said the incident was captured on video by witnesses. However, by the time officers arrived at the scene, Carter had fled.

Police said on Thursday they got a tip that Carter was staying at an apartment on Park Avenue. Police said they surrounded the building and a short time later they spotted Carter outside.

However, police said when Carter saw them, he took off running.

When they finally grabbed him, police said officers found heroin and cocaine in a fanny pack Carter was wearing.