Man Fell Asleep At Drive-Thru With Gun In Lap: Police

NEW HAVEN, CT — A man was arrested Sunday night on allegations that he was found in his car asleep with a gun in his lap at a drive-thru, then led police on a high-speed chase, according to police. Tobias Nivens, 32, was charged with numerous firearm and motor vehicle violations, including criminal possession of a firearm, engaging police in a pursuit, weapon in a motor vehicle, and altering a serial number on a firearm.

Police responded at 4:30 a.m. Sunday to a report that a man at a 280 Kimberly Ave. drive-thru was passed out in his car with a gun in his lap.

Officers arrived and Nivens stopped in the drive-thru lane. With his car’s engine running, Nivens was asleep in the driver's seat with a handgun on his lap. Officers knocked on the car windows and were able to awaken Nivens.

Nivens drove away onto Kimberly Avenue and fled at a high rate of speed into nearby West Haven, according to police. After a police pursuit that ended at his West Haven residence, Nivens surrendered and was taken into custody.

Officers recovered the gun Nivens had thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit.

Nivens was held with a bond of $250,000 and was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in New Haven Superior Court.