PD: Man Driving Drunk Found With Loaded Handgun in Car

A 34-year-old Hartford man is facing carrying a handgun while driving under the influence charges after Middletown Police say he was seen driving a BMW on Main Street with a loaded gun in the car.

On Aug. 14 at 10:30 p.m., Efrain Salgado of Nepaug Street, Hartford, was seen by police driving south on Mainmiddle of an intersection on Main Street at Liberty, then turned into the parking lot. The report says Salgado had to press the electric window button several times before being able to lower it for the officer.

The report says the officer saw a Budweiser bottle on the passenger seat on top of what appeared to be pieces of a smashed Budweiser bottle," and smelled alcohol strongly in the car. Salgado's speech was slurred and his eyes were glossy, and the officer says he admitted to drinking three beers "somewhere in Hartford," and his response to many of the officer questions, the report indicates, was "whatever, do what you have to do."

Salgato failed sobriety tests, the report says, and Lt. Maturo saw a handgun in the driver's side door "map pocket," loaded with a magazine and one round in the chamber and found with two additional loaded magazines in the "map pocket." He was charged with driving under the influence and illegally carrying firearms.

Officers found a state permit to carry pistols and revolvers in his wallet, the report indicates. Back at headquarters, Salgado took two breath tests at 11:55 p.m., which registered .1822 blood-alcohol content and a 12:21 a.m. one that registered .1816 BAC.