Man in Bethel with handgun arrested

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BETHEL - A convicted felon with a handgun was taken into custody on Sunday after falling asleep in his car.

Police said they received reports of a suspicious vehicle on Hunting Ridge Lane when they found Antonio Veiga, 45, of Danbury, sleeping behind the wheel of a running car. Responding officers saw a glass pipe routinely used for smoking crack cocaine.

A search of the car revealed additional crack cocaine and a handgun that had been placed in a bag underneath the driver seat, authorities said.

Veiga has a number of convictions stemming from 2011 including two counts of third-degree burglary as well as larceny and weapons charges, according to court documents. He was also wanted on a warrant for his arrest stemming from a failure to appear for a court date on purported probation violation.

Veiga, who police said was also operating with a suspended drivers license, was taken into custody on a number of charges including possession of narcotics and criminal possession of a handgun.

Veiga was released on a $10,000 bond and is expected to appear in Danbury Superior Court for his arraignment on July 24.

dperrefort@newstimes.com