Illegal Firearm Found On Suspects From Bridgeport Assault Case: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — An illegal handgun was found by police in the car of a suspect from a Wednesday morning assault case in Bridgeport, according to police.

The incident began at about 7:30 a.m. at the Citgo gas station on State Street, when a distraught woman flagged down a patrolling sergeant to tell him that she had just been assaulted in the gas station's store.

The victim pointed at a gray vehicle at the station as carrying the alleged assailant.

"The suspect started making unusual movements in the vehicle and he was ordered to turn the car off and hand over the keys," wrote Bridgeport Police Captain Lonnie Blackwell in a statement. "The victim started yelling 'he assaulted me in the store' and continued arguing with suspect. The victim was ordered to calm down until American Medical Response arrived to give her medical assistance."

While the sergeant was speaking to the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Taivon Reed, a second suspect, 52-year-old Robert Womack, was seen sneaking over the to right rear passenger door, and grabbing an item from the back seat, according to police.

Womack was ordered to stop, and police recovered a handgun.

The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries by American Medical Response personnel, and police obtained video footage from the store for the investigation.

Reed and Womack were both taken into custody; Reed, a Bridgeport resident, was charged with:

• Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle
• Illegal Operation of Motor Vehicle without a License
• Criminally Negligence Storage of a Firearm
• Illegal Possession of Weapon in Motor Vehicle
• Illegal Possession of Large Capacity Magazine
• Second-degree Breach of Peace
• Third-degree Assault

Womack, a West Haven resident, was charged with:

• Tampering with Physical Evidence
• Interfering with Officers

Both are scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court at a later date.

"This call demonstrates the continuous efforts made by Bridgeport Police Officers to maintain public safety and reduce the number of illegal firearms accessible in our community," Blackwell said. "Further, this arrest illustrates that individuals in possession of these firearms, without the proper permits, will be held accountable."