Yikes, quite a scare for Occupy New Haven members yesterday when one protester found himself face to face with a man armed with a semi-automatic handgun in the wee morning hours.
Dairres Walden, 22, was caught with "black baseball gloves and a knit ski mask, police said. A loaded Cobra CA 380 .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun was shoved into the waistband of his pants, according to police spokesman Officer David Hartman."
Police said the serial number on the gun had been altered.
Around 1:13 a.m., police were called to the upper area of the New Haven Green, located at the intersection of College and Elm streets. An Occupy New Haven demonstrator had contacted officers about a group of young men who were yelling "wake up" and kicking the occupiers' tents as they walked through the encampment.
According to police, Sabatino said he confronted the men and had a gun pulled on him. Another demonstrator named Henry Rodriguez heard the commotion and left his tent to see what was going on. He told officers he saw one member of the group pointing a gun at Sabatino.
The gunman, along with the rest of the group, took off running west on Elm Street toward York Street.
Yale police caught up with Walden near Urban Outfitters at 51 Broadway. After a struggle, Walden was apprehended and taken into custody.
Walden was charged with the violation of five crimes, including three for weapons violations.
No word on the other men who were with Walden in the camp.
