Loaded Gun, Drugs Seized By Police; Man Arrested: Stamford PD

STAMFORD, CT — Police said they seized a loaded gun and drugs and arrested a Stamford man following a multi-week investigation.

Daivone Harper, 28, who was out on bond in connection with unrelated charges out of New Haven, was arrested in Stamford Wednesday at approximately 4 p.m., according to Asst. Stamford Police Chief Richard Conklin.

Harper was charged with:

Criminal possession of a firearm; criminal possession of ammunition; possession of a high-capacity magazine; possession of narcotics; possession with intent to sell; possession of marijuana; possession of marijuana with intent to sell; operating a drug factory; violation of conditions of release; and violation of a protective order.

The charges carried a $500,000 bond.

Harper requested to go to Stamford Hospital following his arrest. After being taken back to police headquarters, he bit a Stamford police officer at the jail, Conklin said, which prompted the additional charges of assault on a police officer and interfering with police, along with a $50,000 bond.

The Stamford Police Department's Narcotics & Organized Crime Squad launched an investigation into possible drug sales by Harper, Conklin said.

A search warrant was executed at Harper's Adams Avenue home on Wednesday afternoon. Officers found a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic SMK handgun, which was equipped with a high-capacity magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition, Conklin said.

Officers also recovered 43 bags containing marijuana for sale, totaling roughly 5.4 ounces, Conklin said, adding Harper was also in possession of 14 Oxycodone pills and $700 in cash.

According to the CT Judicial Branch website, Harper was arrested in New Haven on Dec. 31, 2022, and charged with home invasion, second-degree kidnapping, second-degree threatening, risk of injury to a child and breach of peace. He has pleaded not guilty.

Conklin said Harper was released on a $250,000 bond and had to wear a GPS monitoring device.

Considering his past criminal history and that he is accused of biting an officer, Conklin called Harper a "security risk."

"This was a nice case by narcotics and organized crime," Conklin said.

Harper was scheduled to be arraigned in Stamford Superior Court Thursday.