“Give Me Back My Drugs”

A 60-year-old man is in the hospital struggling for his life after a dispute over a drug deal gone bad.

The dispute occurred around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, according to police spokesman Officer David Hartman. Here’s what happened, Hartman said:

Witnesses saw the man obtain ​“a small bag of suspected drugs” from someone in a dark-colored sedan on the 1400 block of Chapel Street (by Yale-New Haven Hospital’s St. Raphael campus). The man ​“took off running.” The person from the sedan, believed to be in his 20s and sporting sunglasses and shoulder-length dreadlocks, ​“ran after him, beat him up and took back the small bag,” then drove off.

“The victim ran after the car and grabbed on to it,” Hartman wrote in a release.

“Give me back my drugs!” the man yelled, or words to that effect. Then he ​“fell from the moving car and apparently struck his head, causing life-threatening injuries to his head and neck.” His condition is reported to be critical; detectives are looking for the driver/alleged dealer. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 203 – 946-6304.

In other weekend crime, according to Hartman:

• A 34-year-old Hamden man said he left work at a downtown New Haven restaurant around 5:30 a.m. Saturday when someone in an alley asked him for change, then ​“stabbed him twice in the torso” when no money was forthcoming. The assailant remains at large. The victim’s wounds are non-life-threatening.

• A 19-year-old Domino’s pizza deliverer left his 2009 Nissan Altima running and unlocked as he went to bring a pie to an address on the 200 block of Elm Street around 11 p.m. Saturday. It was not a wise move. ​“As the customer checked the order, someone got into the car and drove off” with not just the car but ​“the profits of his 14 prior deliveries.”

• A 51-year-old New Haven man was walking on Ferry Street with an acquaintance and her infant around 6:30 p.m. Sunday when someone ​“made an unfavorable comment about the child.” The man told him to ​“watch his mouth.” An argument ensued, escalated. In the view of witnesses, the commenter ​“pulled a pocket-knife and slashed the victim across his face.” Cops showed up, saw the man, and caught him in the drive-thru of a nearby fast-food restaurant after he ran away. They arrested and charged the 27-year-old arrestee with first-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon, second-degree breach of peace and refusal to be fingerprinted. The victim’s injuries are described as non-life-threatening.