Intoxicated Bethany Gun Owner Threatened People in New Haven: PD

Police arrested a Bethany man and confiscated eight guns after he threatened people in a parking lot, according to police.

Police were dispatched to the Ikea parking lot July 13 around 6 p.m. to investigating a crash. They received reports that the offending driver had a gun and was pointing it at people in the parking lot, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman.

Officers pulled up to the parking lot and found Donald Long of Bethany. Officers commanded him to raise his arms and he reached toward his waist, Hartman said. The second time officers told him to raise his hands he complied, then put his hands into his pockets. Officers drew their guns and Long pulled coins from his pockets. He was handcuffed.

Long stored his gun in his truck prior to police arrival, Hartman said. He admitted to consuming several shots of bourbon and said, "I’m obviously not a good drinker.”

The first witness told police he was in an Audi and Long was driving quickly, swerving in an out of traffic. He said Long’s pick-up struck his car on Brewery Street near the Ikea lot entrance. He said his passenger ran after Long as he entered the lot.

The passenger said Long pointed a gun at him and kept going, according to Hartman. Kept going, that is, until he crashed into a white Range Rover. The passenger kept up with Long who, according to another witness, pointed the gun at him again and threatened to fire. The witness said he believed it was when Long saw several people on their phones, that he put the gun in the truck.

Another witness told police that when the Audi passenger told Long not to move until police arrived, Long shouted some vulgarities and again pointed the gun at him and threatened to shoot.

Long didn't perform a field sobriety test because he claimed a medical condition. His gun permits were in order and all but one gun was registered to him. He submitted to a blood alcohol test at the hospital, Hartman said.

He was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, breach of peace in the second degree, interfering with police, carrying a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, evading responsibility, threatening in the first degree and reckless driving.

In all, the officers confiscated, from Long’s truck:

• Loaded Sig Sauer P238, .380 caliber handgun,
• Colt .45 Gover model with 2 magazines,
• Sig Sauer Mosquito .22,
• Taurus .357 magnum “The Judge” revolver,
• Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm shield with two magazines,
• Ruger SP101 .357 magnum revolver,
• H&R Arms .22 revolver model 922,
• Rifle CX4 Storm Beretta with 3 magazines,
• 15 .40 caliber rounds,
• Weapon magazine
• Flash suppressor,
• Winchester box containing 34 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition,
• Winchester Box containing 50 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition,
• Shot shell 9mm luger box containing 10 rounds,
• Mini-Mag 22 LR containing 81 40 grain rounds,
• Crown Royal bag containing 19 miscellaneous rounds,
• Crown Royal bag containing 19 miscellaneous rounds
• Crown Royal bag containing 25 miscellaneous rounds.