Suspect Accused Of Biting Bridgeport Police Officer During Getaway

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 25-year-old man was arrested on weapons and assault charges Wednesday, after Bridgeport police said the suspect bit an officer in the hand while trying to avoid capture by authorities.

The incident occurred at about 11 p.m. at the intersection of Maple and Kossuth streets in Bridgeport, following a traffic stop. Police pulled over a gray Nissan Altima that had been blocking the roadway in the area, which has been a site where guns have been fired and violent crimes have been committed, according to Tiadora Josef, the city's director of Public Information.

During the vehicle stop, officers saw Kavon Roberts, the passenger in the car, had a silver Smith & Wesson .40 caliber firearm in the waistband of his pants. Roberts jumped out of the car and ran, according to police.

"Officers chased Roberts on foot into the area of Beach Street to a nearby backyard," Josef wrote in a statement. "Officers attempted to stop Roberts from jumping over a fence into the next yard, but were unsuccessful due to Roberts assaulting the officer by biting his hand."

Police quickly found Roberts, who was trying to hide under the stairs of a building in the adjacent yard. A search of Roberts turned up "10 wax paper folds inside his pocket that tested positive for fentanyl."

The loaded handgun was also recovered, and police also found more than a dozen additional rounds of ammunition.

Roberts was taken into custody and was charged with the following:

• Failure to wear seatbelt
• Interfering
• Assault on public safety officer
• Criminal possession of a firearm (2 counts)
• Illegal purchase of high capacity magazine
• Possession of a controlled substance

He was held in lieu of bail of $150,000, and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

"The Bridgeport Police Patrol Division continues to safeguard our community and remove illegal firearms from our city streets," Josef said.