Driver Blows Through Stop Signs In Middletown, Gets Caught With Gun: Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Running stop signs wound up being a bad idea for a Hartford resident, who is now facing gun charges in Middletown, police said.

At about 6 p.m. on Thursday, Middletown officers were on routine patrol when they saw a black BMW traveling west on Liberty Street at a high rate of speed, going through multiple stop signs, according to an incident report.

When officers were able to catch up to the vehicle, it quickly turned into a private driveway and the driver, later identified as 33-year-old Hartford resident Alton Malabre, exited the vehicle armed with a handgun and engaged the officers in a brief foot chase.

A police dog was able to recover a loaded black un-serialized 9mm handgun in close proximity to where Malabre was taken into custody, according to an incident report.

Malabre was charged with:

• Disobeying the signal of an officer
• Misuse of marker plates
• Illegal operation of a vehicle with a suspended license
• Illegal operation of vehicle without insurance
• Reckless driving
• Illegal possession of a large capacity magazine
• Tampering with evidence
• Carrying a pistol without a permit
• First-degree reckless endangerment
• Illegal possession of weapons in a vehicle
• Illegal possession of a firearm without a serial number

Malabre was held on a $500,000 bond was to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on Friday, police said.