MONROE, CT — A New Haven man was arrested on a slew of charges after police say he was passed out behind the wheel of a stolen gray Acura TLX, parked on Gaylor Drive with the engine running and its lights on late Sunday morning.
Officers responding to a neighborhood complaint spoke to the driver, Tayvon LaMar Harris, 29, who appeared to have just woken up, according to police.
Police said Harris admitted to drinking at a bar and told officers he was dropping off a friend in the area. Officers smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Harris’ breath, he appeared nervous while talking to them and there were obvious signs he had gotten sick, police said.
Monroe Emergency Medical Service personnel responded to the scene to evaluate Harris, who refused medical attention, according to the report.
While checking his identification, police learned Harris’ driver’s license was suspended and there was a warrant for his arrest out of New Haven for weapons offenses, police said.
A check on the VIN number of the vehicle determined it was stolen out of New York and that the Connecticut plates did not belong to it.
While doing an inventory of the car’s interior before towing it, officers found a Glock handgun and ammunition between the driver’s seat and the center console, police said.
At police headquarters, field sobriety tests showed Harris was under the influence, according to the report.
He was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, theft of license plates, driving without insurance, driving with a suspended license and falsifying a marker plate.
Bond for the motor vehicle charges was set at $500 with a Dec. 23 court date.
Harris was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of ammunition, larceny of a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
Bond for those charges was $75,000 with a Dec. 16 court date.
Harris posted bond for both and was released from Monroe police custody at 10:18 p.m. and turned over to New Haven police on its warrant.
Criminal impersonation
A 70-year-old Monroe man told police Dec. 5 that an employee of an M&T Bank branch in East Haven called him the previous day to inform him that someone was attempting to cash a $2,270 check using his driver’s license. He told the employee it wasn’t him.
The victim told police he was still in possession of his driver’s license and the identity thief apparently knew his Social Security number. He does not know how the criminal got his information.
Police said the victim had no financial loss and none of his other accounts appear to have been compromised. He was advised to flag all of his financial accounts.
Detectives are following up on this case.
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