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The unidentified 16-year-old, who police said is a chronic offender with numerous arrests, lead officers on a chase with a loaded semi-automatic pistol on Tuesday after officers attempted to stop him, said Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin.
Conklin said members of the Narcotics and Organized Crime squad received information that two boys were carrying a gun on Lawn Avenue.
When squad members and uniformed officers spotted the two boys, the two ran and took officers on a long foot chase down the hill to Myrtle Street, Conklin said.
Once stopped, the boy with the gun refused to obey police commands to raise his hands, and instead grabbed the .32 caliber gun, with one round in the chamber and eight bullets in the gun, and threw it to the ground, Conklin said.
Conklin said the situation could have turned very quickly with either the teen or someone else being shot.
"The Stamford Police Department used a great amount of restraint and professionalism as the teen reached for the gun and had it in his hands before tossing it down," Conklin said.
The teen was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and interfering with police. The other boy was charged with interfering with police.
Conklin said new state laws allowing repeat juvenile offenders back on the streets have created a dangerous situation, for officers, the offenders, and the public.
“While we completely agree with diversionary programs for juveniles, it’s not just us but others in the law enforcement community who are finding a number of youthful criminals who are taking advantage of the new laws," he added.
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