A mother called the police on her son when she suspected he was hiding a shotgun in his bag.
Her suspicion was right — and her call may have saved a life.
Here’s how the incident unfolded, according to a report from spokesman Officer David Hartman:
“At about 6:30 PM, the concerned mother of a seventeen-year-old New Haven boy phoned police to report her son had left their apartment. She believed he was armed with a shotgun. Officers Michael Valente and Jakub Baliga headed to the Elm Street apartment.
“The teen’s mother had grown concerned after noticing that her son looked ‘pissed.’ When she questioned him as to why he appeared that way, she indicated he was dismissive and went to his room. She said she overheard parts of a disturbing conversation between her son and someone he was on the phone with. The call made her anxious.
“When mom saw her son leaving with a duffel bag, she stopped him and asked where he was going. She said she felt the bag. Her son’s answer that it contained clothes didn’t add up. After feeling it, she knew it contained something else. She described it as long and hard. When asked how long, she held her hands up and apart, suggesting it was about a foot and a half long. She told the officers that days ago she learned from someone else that her son may have had a shotgun concealed in a black duffel bag. She presumed the hard item she’d felt in the bag was just that. Even though she’d not seen what was inside the bag, she was concerned enough to phone police.
“Officers Valente and Baliga issued a ‘broadcast’ for the seventeen year old — passing along to area officers the young man’s description and that he may have been armed. “Black male, 5’06”, slim build, short hair, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, red sneakers and carrying the aforementioned duffel.
“A phone call from mom shed some light on the teen’s location. He said he was at a friend’s house on Garden Street.
“Officer Paul Prusinski soon spotted the suspect. He was walking south on Garden Street toward Edgewood Avenue. When the officer approached him, the teen took off. He ran into a Garden Street home through the front door, closing and locking it behind him. Officers Thomas Glynn, Patrick Bengston and Michael Lozada arrived to assist.
“When he and Officers Carlos Conceicao and Tiffany Ortiz went to the back of the house, they spotted a 16-year-old boy. He was standing next to the open door to a green stolen 2012 Ford Escape. Officer Conceicao recognized the young man from a previous gun related incident and knew he had an outstanding warrant. When the teen saw Officer Conceicao, he reached toward the floor area of the Ford’s back seat. He was quickly handcuffed and relieved of the stolen car’s keys.
“Once it was confirmed the teen had a warrant for violating a court order, he was arrested and handcuffed. Officers then found the duffel bag. It was located on the floor of the SUV. It contained a Mossberg Model ‘sawed-off’ 12 gauge 600AT pistol-grip shotgun and shotgun cartridges.
“Chief Dean M. Esserman said: ‘We are impressed with this parent’s decision to call on us to investigate this incident. Community policing depends on the citizens’ trust. We are grateful to this mother for providing us with the valuable information that kept her son and others safe.’
“The 17-year-old was arrested and charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun, interfering with police and third degree trespassing. The 16-year-old was arrested and charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun and second degree larceny. The SUV had been reported shortly after midnight in the area of Donna Drive. Its owner lives in East Haven. The shotgun — clearly displaying the saw marks from its illegal modification — was untraceable but not reported stolen.
“Both teens were remanded to the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center under an order to detain by a judge.”
This Mom should be commended. Her decision to pay attention to her son and call for help may have saved multiple families from harm including her own. I hope that she and her son will receive the legal and emotional support they need to navigate the judicial process.