Man Charged After Gun Found In Vehicle At Southington Strip Club: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A 27-year-old Waterbury man was charged Monday night after Southington police investigating a suspected counterfeit license plate discovered a loaded handgun inside his vehicle at a Queen Street strip club, according to police.

Keenan Isaiah Dukes, 27, of Waterbury, was arrested Monday, Nov. 2, after officers located his vehicle in the parking lot of Hollywood Cabaret, 1104 Queen St., according to a news release issued Tuesday by the Southington Police Department.

Police said officers were investigating a vehicle believed to be displaying a counterfeit registration plate in the Queen Street area at approximately 10:23 p.m.

Officers located the vehicle parked at Hollywood Cabaret and coordinated their approach to prevent it from leaving the area.

Police made contact with Dukes, the vehicle's sole occupant, and detained him without incident.

During the investigation, officers determined the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured, Dukes had an expired driver's license, and the vehicle was displaying a counterfeit registration plate, police said.

A Southington Police Department K-9 unit responded to assist with the investigation.

According to police, K-9 Kay conducted a free-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted officers to the possible presence of narcotics.

Officers subsequently searched the vehicle and discovered a Springfield Armory XD-40, .40-caliber handgun concealed inside the glove compartment, police said.

The handgun contained a magazine loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition.

Police said further investigation determined that Dukes was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Dukes was arrested and charged with:

• Criminal possession of a pistol or revolver.
• Carrying a pistol without a permit.
• Illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
• Illegal possession of a large-capacity magazine.
• Theft or illegal possession of a number plate.
• Operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
• Operating without required insurance.
• Operating a motor vehicle with an expired license.

Police did not report any drug-related charges.

Dukes was transported to Southington police headquarters for processing and held overnight on a $100,000 bond.

He was transported to court Tuesday morning, Nov. 3, for arraignment, police said.