An 18-year-old New Haven man is facing a string of charges after officers found drugs and a handgun within reach of 8- and 14-year-old girls at an apartment where he was staying, according to police.
Police arrived at the apartment on Colby Court around 8 p.m. Friday to serve Alton Small with a warrant for his arrest. He was suspected of weapons violations including the illegal sale of a firearm and possession of a sawed-off shotgun, police said.
The two children answered when police knocked on the door. Officers went upstairs to find Small asleep in the bedroom. Police said he initially gave them a fake name and then admitted his real identity.
Officers found 14 grams of crack cocaine, a few grams of marijuana, drug packaging, a loaded .25-caliber handgun and a bag of bullets at the apartment, according to police. Authorities said the gun was accessible to the children.
Small was charged with the illegal sale of a firearm, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, risk of injury to minors and five drug-related offenses including possession with intent to sell.
The state Department of Children and Families was notified and the girls went to stay with a relative, police said.
