New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Police: Suspects ran out of gas after tossing gun
NEW HAVEN — An empty tank of gas helped police catch three people who are now facing weapons charges.
The lack of gas was a help because the three suspects were in a car from which a semiautomatic handgun was allegedly thrown before the driver attempted to flee, police said.
The car didn’t get far before it ran out of gas.
The incident began on July 14 when police officers Osvaldo Garcia and Marlena Ofiara were on patrol in the Hill South area and spotted a green Mazda sedan that had a motor vehicle equipment violation, police said in a release.
The two officers tried to stop the Mazda but the driver refused to pull over, police said.
The officers safely followed the Mazda, and saw what they believed was a handgun thrown from the vehicle. It was a semiautomatic handgun, police said.
Other officers followed the Mazda toward the Interstate 95 south on ramp at Kimberly Avenue and as the vehicle headed onto the highway, it stalled and stopped.
The officers later found out the Mazda had run out of gas, but meanwhile the suspects were safely taken into custody, police said.
Sgt. Christopher Cameron, who monitored the officers’ actions and directed the “safe apprehension of the occupants of the Mazda” said he was “proud of the officers’ actions and efforts to carefully conclude this investigation,” the release noted.
“The efforts of these patrol officers and others were instrumental in keeping the citizens of New Haven safe from gun violence,” Shift Commander
Lt. Stephan Torquati said, also in the release.
The NHPD Investigative Services Division also assisted in the investigation, police said.
The suspects charged are:
Farris Flowers Jr., 18, of New Haven, who was driving the car, is charged with having a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit, engaging in pursuit, and interfering with police.
David Hobby, 38, also of New Haven, is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, having a weapon in a motor vehicle, and carrying a pistol without a permit.
Nychell Hamilton, 19, of Ansonia, is charged with having a weapon in a motor vehicle and carrying a pistol without a permit.