Customers at a Southport diner called police after a man pulled out a loaded gun Friday morning.
Officers responded the Athena Diner at 3350 Post Road after the man, who appeared to be drunk, got into an argument with a friend and pulled out the gun. Witnesses said the man placed the gun on the table, which alarmed customers.
Police approached Rahul Taylor, 29, of Westport and asked him if he was carrying a gun. Taylor told officers he was not carrying a weapon, but admitted to drinking alcohol. He was asked to stand and as he did, he reached for his right side, and officers noticed a gun in his waistband, according to police.
An officer grabbed Taylor's wrist and removed the loaded, .45-caliber pistol from Taylor waistband, police said.
Taylor was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree threatening, reckless endangerment, breach of peace and carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond.
Taylor does have a valid pistol permit, which was seized for the Connecticut Firearms Review Board, according to police. He also owns two shotguns and police Friday were attempting to locate the weapons and seize them pending the review of Taylor's permit.
