This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Officers Arrest Bridgeport Man For Gun Possession

Police say concerned citizen at public housing project warned of suspicious person.

A candlelight vigil at a South Norwalk public housing project Saturday night that drew police attention resulted in officers arresting a Bridgeport man for allegedly carrying a gun.

Two Special Services officers patrolling Woodward Avenue reported large groups of black males gathering in the area wearing all-red clothing and red and black beads. Another officer observing the location said in a report the clothing indicated they were members of the “Money Green” gang.

The two Special Services officers reported they were advised by radio that the groups were getting together in the playground of the Meadow Gardens public housing project for a vigil for Norwalk resident Michael Patterson, who was murdered in Stamford in September 2010.

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The officers were advised by radio that a “concerned citizen” was watching a man walking through Meadow Gardens acting suspiciously.

The officers drove to the nearby Monterey Village housing project to see if the man arrived there, saying the property is often used as a shortcut to Grove Street. (Monterey Village is commonly known as Carlton Court.)

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Arriving there, they said they immediately spotted man in clothing matching the description provided by the citizen who called police.

The officers reported the man was wearing a dark-colored, winter-style hoodie with a thermal shirt, although it was humid and around 75 degrees. They also said he was breathing very heavily and sweating profusely.

The officers said when they questioned him, he said he was coming from Meadow Gardens and going to the train station to catch a train back to Bridgeport.

The man identified himself as Jonathan Lee and gave the officers a bank card given to individuals who receive food stamps and other types of welfare assistance.

After being asked for photo identification, one of the officers said he grabbed the man by his right shoulder when it appeared he was ready to run off. At that point, the other officer reportedly yelled “gun,” and the man was forced to the ground.

A .357-caliber handgun was removed from a bag he was carrying, according to police, and a pat down search also found he was carrying 14 loose rounds of ammunition.

Jonathan C. Lee, 24, of 42 Dean Pl., Apt. B302, was charged with carrying a gun without a permit, first-degree criminal trespass, and criminal use of a firearm or electronic defense weapon.

Lee remained in police custody Sunday in lieu of posting $100,000 bond. He was assigned a court date of Oct. 25.

Both Patterson and Stamford resident Donta Wilks, 31, died of gunshot wounds inflicted Sept. 25, 2010, at Stamford’s Southwood Square housing complex.

Police said the shootings occurred during a dispute at a dice game where Wilks kept a $20 bill a Norwalk man had handed him to break into change.

Police identified Stamford resident Jason Kendrick as the man who shot Patterson. He was not prosecuted because authorities determined Patterson had shot at him first and he returned fire in self defense.

Editor's note: This article originally was published at 3:17 p.m., Sunday. The time stamp was changed for layout purposes on the main Norwalk Patch page.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.