New Haven police confiscate 8 guns after Bethany man crashes pick-up truck twice in IKEA parking lot

Donald Long Donald Long Photo: Courtesy New Haven PD Photo: Courtesy New Haven PD Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close New Haven police confiscate 8 guns after Bethany man crashes pick-up truck twice in IKEA parking lot 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> A 66-year-old Bethany man is facing a slew of charges after police say he crashed into two separate cars, left the scene and then threatened the other drivers with his gun. Police confiscated eight weapons and various different ammunition the man had in his pick-up truck during the incident in the Ikea parking lot.

James Long was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree breach of peace, interfering with police, carrying a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving under the influence, evading responsibility, first-degree threatening and reckless driving.

Nobody was injured in any of the accidents, police said.

Officers Marc Doherty and Steven Spofford were dispatched to the Ikea parking lot to investigate a vehicle crash just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The callers reported the driver of the offending vehicle had a gun and was pointing it at people in the parking lot, police said.

As the officers headed to the scene, another call came in from a different motorist who said the same pick-up truck had struck his Audi and that the driver pulled a gun on him as well, police said in a release.

When the officers pulled up, folks pointed to Long, who was walking away. The officers commanded him to stop and raise his arms. Instead, the man reached toward his waist, police said. The second command was obeyed briefly. Then the man put his hands into his pockets, according to police.

With guns drawn, the officers again told the man to show his hands. He pulled them from his pockets, dropping coins to the ground, police said.

Police placed Long in handcuffs and patted him down. He had a gun holster on his waist, but it was empty, police said.

When officers asked him where the gun was, Long said he put it back in his pick-up truck because he knew police were coming and he wanted to avoid further problems. He told police he is a registered gun owner and had “a few more in the truck,” police said.

While the officers searched Long’s truck, he told them he had consumed “…several shots of Bourbon,” according to the release from police.

“I’m obviously not a good drinker,” he reportedly told police.

When officers searched Long’s truck, they found eight different guns and ammunition.

In all, the officers confiscated: a loaded Sig Sauer P238 .380 caliber handgun; a Colt .45 Gvt. model with 2 magazines; a Sig Sauer Mosquito .22; a Taurus .357 magnum “The Judge” revolver; Smith and Wesson M&P 9 mm shield with two magazines; a Ruger SP101 .357 magnum revolver; a H&R Arms .22 revolver model 922; a rifle CX4 Storm Beretta with 3 magazines; 15 .40 caliber rounds; a weapons magazine; a flash suppressor; a Winchester box containing 34 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition; a Winchester Box containing 50 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition; a shot shell 9mm luger box containing 10 rounds; one Mini-Mag 22 LR containing 81 40-grain rounds; a Crown Royal bag containing 19 miscellaneous rounds; another Crown Royal bag containing 19 miscellaneous rounds and a Crown Royal bag containing 25 miscellaneous rounds.

A witness told police Long was driving quickly, swerving in an out of traffic. Long’s truck struck his Audi on Brewery Street near the Ikea lot entrance, he told police.

The driver said his passenger ran after Long as he entered the lot — Long pointed a gun at him and kept going, according to police.

Kept going, that is, until he crashed into a white Range Rover, police said. The passenger kept up with Long who, according to another witness, pointed the gun at him again and threatened to fire.

When Long saw several people on their phones, he put the gun back in his truck, according to police. The Audi passenger told Long not to move until police arrived, and Long shouted some vulgarities and again pointed the gun at him and threatened to shoot, a witness told police.

As the Range Rover’s owner arrived to view the damage, police were looking at the crash on the store’s surveillance system.

Police said Long appeared intoxicated, but because of a medical condition, he could not perform field sobriety tests. He asked for medical attention and he was taken away in an ambulance, police said.

At the hospital, Long submitted to a blood alcohol test. Once the results are reported, Long could face additional charges, police said.

Long’s gun permits were in order and all but one of the weapons were registered to him, according to police. His vehicle registration, however, had expired a year ago, officials said.

The guns and ammunition were confiscated and Long’s truck was towed from the scene.