During the morning hours on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, members of the Connecticut State Police Violent Crimes Task Force, the New Haven Criminal Intelligence Unit, and the New Haven Shooting Task Force were alerted to information indicating that an individual was in illegal possession of a firearm. As the investigation progressed, the individual was identified as Deor Dkai Freeman (DOB: 02/06/2003) of New Haven.
During a surveillance operation, detectives observed Freeman driving a black Nissan Sentra, which was parked along the shoulder of Edgewood Ave in New Haven. Detectives observed Freeman exit his vehicle, approached another driver, and engage in a hand-to-hand drug transaction.
Detectives maintained surveillance and observed Freeman re-enter the Nissan, which then merged onto I-95 southbound . The vehicle exited the highway at Exit 34, entering the town of Milford. Detectives followed the vehicle as it parked at the corner of Berwyn St and Elbon St, where a female passenger entered the vehicle as Freeman exited the vehicle. At this time, the Detective activated their cruiser's emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop Freeman. In response, Freeman quickly entered his vehicle and attempted to flee. Additional units strategically positioned their vehicles to block Freeman's escape. Freeman repeatedly maneuvered his vehicle forward and backward, trying to evade capture, and ultimately struck a police vehicle head-on. He then drove onto the front lawn of a residence on Berwyn St, before merging onto Elbon St, where he collided with a parked, unoccupied white Toyota Prius. The force of the impact pushed the Prius into the front driver's side of a detective’s police vehicle.
Following this event, Freeman continued traveling north on Elbon St, eventually turning onto Northwood Place, a dead-end road. Continuing to evade capture, Freeman drove into the backyard of a residence, where he struck a rear deck. Freeman then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but was apprehended by detectives on Cowles St shortly thereafter. Detectives determined there were two passengers within the Nissan who were initially detained in handcuffs, but later released from the scene. a search incident to arrest of Freeman's person revealed he was in possession of approximately 6.76 grams of a white rock-like substance and a significant amount of cash. Throughout the on-scene investigation, Detectives located a firearm on the driver's side passenger floorboard, determined to be a Polymer 80 9mm "ghost gun" with a 31 round capacity magazine loaded with 15 rounds and one chambered round.
The suspected narcotics, cash, and firearm were all seized and later submitted as evidence. No Detectives were injured in the process.
Freeman was arrested and transported to Troop G in Bridgeport where he was charged with the following violations:
C.G.S. 21a-278(b1A*+ - Possession of Narcotic Substance w/ Intent to Sell
C.G.S. 21a-279(a)(1) - Possession of a Controlled Substance
C.G.S. 29-36a(c(1 - Illegal Possession of a Firearm w/ no Serial Number
C.G.S. 29-38 - Illegal Possession of a Weapon in a Motor Vehicle
C.G.S. 53-202w(c(1 - Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine
C.G.S. 53a-167a - Interfering with an Officer/Resisting
C.G.S. 53a-217 - Criminal Possession of a Firearm
Freeman was held on a $300,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Bridgeport Superior Court on 01/03/2025.
