Convicted Felon Found With Stolen Gun After Traffic Stop: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — A convicted felon was arrested early Thursday morning after police said he was found in the possession of a stolen gun after driving through two stop signs while operating under the influence.

An officer tried to stop a GMC Yucon around 12:30 a.m. on Pratt Street in Meriden after seeing it go through two stop signs and traveling at a high rate of speed, according to police.

The officer activated his lights and siren while trying to catch up to the vehicle, but called off the pursuit due to the speed and gave out the direction and description of the vehicle for other officers in the area, according to police.

Police said another officer saw a GMC Yukon matching the description at the intersection of Camp Street and Broad Street. The officer stopped the GMC in the Cumberland Farms parking lot.

The driver was identified as 46-year-old Dana Dunbar, who became “increasingly nervous” while speaking to officers, according to police.

Police said Dunbar informed the officers that he had “something” on him.

“When asked if Dunbar was in possession of a weapon he said ‘yes,’” police wrote in a news release. “When officers inquired if Dunbar was in possession of a firearm, he stated ‘yes.’ Dunbar was told to step out of the vehicle and placed into handcuffs. A firearm was observed in the driver side door compartment in plain view of the officers. A glass cylindrical tube was broken outside of Dunbar’s driver side door. Upon detaining Dunbar an odor of alcoholic beverage was emanating from his person.”

An investigation found that Dunbar is a convicted felon, and the gun was confirmed stolen out of South Carolina, according to police.

Dunbar was arrested on charges of possessing a stolen firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, driving a motor vehicle under the influence, misuse of plates, weapon in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm, disobeying a signal of a police officer, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, traveling unreasonably fast, suspended driver’s license, insufficient insurance, and failure to obey a stop sign. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bond.