New Haven Independent

Here’s what happened, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery:

On Thursday at 3:44 p.m., Officers Robert Hayden and John Folch spotted a teenager pedaling a mountain bike against traffic on a one-way street near the corner of Newhall and Lilac Streets in Newhallville. When the 16-year-old noticed the police, he jumped off his bike and fled, holding his waistline. He then turned and pointed a gun at the officers.

The cops told him to “drop the gun.” He fled. Police chased him on foot through backyards and over fences. At one point, the teenager got caught on a fence. The officers again told him to drop the gun. The teenager fell to the ground, tossed the gun into a backyard, and kept running.

He was caught by Hamden and New Haven police at 671 Newhall St. The 9mm handgun, which was found to be stolen from South Carolina, was recovered from the rear yard of 71 Lilac St.

The 16-year-old was charged with reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit, firearm theft, police interference, and riding a bike against traffic.

In other news, according to Avery:

Cop Assaulted In After-Hours Fight

Responding to a report of a fight on Crown Street, a police officer was punched twice in his head. Cops also found a gun on the ground.

At 1:30 on Friday morning, as the bars were shutting down, Officer Milton DeJesus responded to Crown and Church Streets to break up a fight. One of the fighters turned on him and delivered two punches to the right side of the officer’s head. Officer DeJesus’ head swelled up and he went to the emergency room for treatment. The man was arrested.

Also responding to the fight on Crown Street, Officer Bhagtana recovered a loaded Glock pistol that had been lying on the ground. A 23-year-old man, who appeared to be intoxicated, told police that the gun belonged to him and that he had a permit for it in his car. He was arrested.

Less than 20 minutes later, cops came upon three people in the rear of 68 Hurlburt St. When the people ran, two of them were caught. Police recovered drug packaging material and a 22 caliber Browning pistol, which was found to be stolen from South Carolina.

4 Robbed On Thursday

At 3:56 p.m. Thursday, a man getting off a bus on near the corner of Goffe and Orchard Streets was beaten up and had his Blackberry taken.

At 7:46 p.m. a man was assaulted by two people on a trail in East Rock. The attackers got away with a cellphone and a Gateway Community College ID card. The victim suffered a scrape on his knees.

At 9:07 p.m. two people were robbed by three men in front of 47 Dickerman St. One of the muggers had a black shotgun. The muggers took two cell phones, two wallets, $180 in cash, three credit cards, and a set of keys.

Also on Thursday, police stopped a red Toyota station wagon with a loud muffler at Chapel and East Pearl Street. The officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the car and found a loaded handgun on the passenger.

For block-by-block year-to-date crime info, and daily crime maps, check the Independent’s crime log.