Police: Town worker pulled gun on good Samaritans

STAMFORD — A night out drinking ended with the arrest of a Greenwich town employee after police said he pulled a loaded gun on a pair of good Samaritans who had given him a ride home.

Stamford police Capt. Richard Conklin said Benjamin Fumega, 24, was drinking by himself at Vinny’s Backyard restaurant on Saturday night when he and two other patrons developed a “rapport.”

When the two men saw a “quite intoxicated” Fumega fumbling with his keys and getting ready to drive later in the night, they offered him a ride home, Conklin said.

Once home, however, Fumega decided he didn’t want to call it a night just yet, Conklin said. Instead, he asked if they could drop him off at another bar, Conklin said.

But the two men refused. That’s when Fumega pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and racked a single bullet inside of the chamber, Conklin said. Loaded pistol in hand, Fumega asked the two men to reconsider bringing him to the bar, Conklin said.

The two men eventually persuaded Fumega to go inside of his home without incident, Conklin said. After dropping him off, the pair called police.

“This was a dangerous situation where luckily no one got injured,” Conklin said.

Officers later responded to Fumega’s Stamford home, where they arrested him and seized his gun and pistol permit, Conklin said.

Conklin said the department is working with the state to revoke Fumega’s pistol permit.

Fumega was charged with first-degree threatening, reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm while under the influence and disorderly conduct. He was released after posting a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on May 5.

Court documents show Fumega works for the town of Greenwich. According to the town’s website, Fumega is an equipment operator in the Greenwich Highway Department.

Mary Pepe, director of human resources for Greenwich, did not respond to requests for comment Monday.