Middletown Man Tells Police That Cops Are Getting Shot and He Has Guns During DUI Arrest: PD

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A Middletown man is accused of telling police that cops are getting shot and he has guns while being arrested for a DUI incident, according to police.

Middletown Police responded to the area of Washington and Newfield streets at about 2:10 p.m. on Sept. 3 on the report of an accident.

Witnesses told police that the operator of a Mazda, later identified as Winston Tate, 45, passed about four vehicles that were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Washington Street at Newfield Street, into oncoming traffic as he was attempting to make an illegal left turn onto Newfield Street, according to the police report.

Another driver, who was heading north on Vine Street, attempted to turn left onto Washington Street at a green light but was struck by Tate’s vehicle, according to the report.

Tate then fled the accident scene and sped off north on Newfield Street, according to the report.

Moments later, officers located the evading Mazda parked on Stoney Crest Drive and made contact with Tate.

Police said Tate was uncooperative during questioning and evasive with his answers and denied being involved in an accident.

The officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Tate during questioning and police said Tate admitted to drinking but refused to answer what he was drinking and how much. He then refused a field sobriety test, according to police.

The victim positively identified Tate as the driver in the crash, provided a sworn statement and Tate was taken into custody and transported to headquarters for processing, according to police.

“During the booking process, Tate made alarming comments that cops are getting shot and that he has guns,” police wrote in the report. “Tate also provided a New Haven address, however, he listed addresses out of Middletown, New Britain and said that he was homeless.”

Police also said that Tate, who claimed to be an Army veteran, also refused to be fingerprinted, submit to a breath test, sign any of his arrest paperwork or be photographed.

Tate, of South Main Street, Middletown, was arrested on charges of DUI, evading responsibility, failure to obey traffic control signal, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, reckless driving and failure to submit to fingerprints.

He was held on a $75,000 surety bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 6.