Branford Police: East Haven Man Displays Handgun in Taco Bell Drive-Thru

Branford police say an East Haven man is accused of displaying a handgun while he was in the drive-thru at a Taco Bell at 960 West Main Street late Wednesday.

Police said the incident of fast food drive-thru rage ignited after the victim “beeped” his horn at the suspect’s car while he waited in line.

Police Spokesman Capt. Geoffrey Morgan said police received the call just after 10:30 p.m. from the victim, who told police that a man approached him while in line, and pointed a handgun directly at him. He said the man then fled the area in a vehicle, police said.

Officer Matthew Clerkin was able to locate the vehicle a short distance away with the assistance of the victim, police said.

Clerkin and other officers stopped the vehicle and located a loaded handgun inside, Morgan said. The registered weapon belonged to the female operator of the vehicle who held a valid permit to carry a firearm, police said.

Police arrested the passenger, Joaquim Silva, 24, of 187 Hemingway Ave. East Haven, who doesn’t have a valid permit to carry a firearm, after they determined that the dispute erupted between the victim and Silva because the victim “beeped” his horn while behind Silva’s waiting in line, Morgan said.

Silva was charged with first-degree threatening, breach of peace, first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal use of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm.

He was held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Photo via the Branford Police Department