Police: Mom Provides Key To Son's Arrest

A Bridgeport teenager was arrested Wednesday night for illegal possession of a handgun after his mother provided a key to the glove box of her car --  which he was driving -- police said.

While patrolling Taylor Avenue, street crime team officers watched someone "lean into" a parked car and then back away, according to Norwalk Police spokesman Lt. Praveen John, leading the officers to investigate what was occurring.

John said the officers approached the vehicle and smelled burning marijuana. He said they spoke with the car's two male occupants and they said they had smoked marijuana earlier, which is why the car had that smell.

John said the occupants, later identified as Bridgeport residents James Langley, the driver, and Taijon Cooper, denied having any more drugs in the car, but the officers found 12 small baggies of suspected marijuana in the vehicle.

The officers found the glove box locked, John said, and Langley allegedly told the officers the car belonged to a friend who had the key to open it.

Around this time, John said, Langley's mother drove up to the scene and asked what was going on. The officers told her they needed the key to the glove box and -- it being her car -- she gave it to them, John said.

John said the officers found a stolen .380 caliber semi-automatic Smith & Wesson handgun in the glove box and arrested the men.

Cooper ran when the gun was found, John said, but he tripped and fell, enabling officers to take him into custody.

Langley, of 53 Butler Ave., and Cooper, of 201 Anthony St., were charged with theft of a firearm, possession of a weapon in a vehicle, and possesson of a firearm without  a permit.

In addition, both were charged with numerous drug possession offenses, including conspiracy to possess and sell drugs, and  possession of drugs within 1,500 feet of a school.

Both were held on $50,000 bond and given court dates of June 8.