Cops: Narcotics Suspect Ditched Car Still in Drive

Arrest information supplied by the Stratford Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Fleeing police after an attempted motor vehicle stop last week, a narcotics suspect, in an effort to escape on foot, allegedly ditched his car while it was still in drive, police said Tuesday.

The car smashed into a tree and its operator, who police said had thrown a loaded 9mm handgun from his car before abandoning it, was found shortly after hiding in some bushes near a home on Columbus Avenue in Stratford.

Daniel Hylton, 34, is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, police said.

The Stratford man was charged with theft of a firearm, altering the identification of a firearm, possessing a loaded firearm under the influence and criminal possession of a firearm.

Hylton was also charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell, possession of crack cocaine within 1500 feet of a school, possession of marijuana, engaging police is pursuit, using a vehicle without permission, reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment (two counts) and interfering with an officer.

The 34-year-old Stratford man was held in lieu of $150,000 bond.