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Pistol-Wielding Bridgeport Man Sparks Standoff At Fairfield Bank

An area man and woman are behind bars following an intense police standoff with the man inside a bank where he pulled a pistol on a Fairfield detective while being questioned about a bank fraud incident.

A man was arrested at Bankwell in Southport after holding a police officer at gunpoint.

A man was arrested at Bankwell in Southport after holding a police officer at gunpoint.

Photo Credit: Google Maps street view

The standoff went down around 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 23, when officers with the Fairfield Police Detective Bureau were conducting an investigation into bank fraud related to the theft of approximately $120,000 from an elderly person from Texas, said Fairfield Lt. John Bucherati.

The suspects, identified as Carl Myers, 46, and Tanika Haase, 26, both of Bridgeport, were allegedly conducting the fraudulent transactions at Bankwell, located at 1 Sasco Hill Road in Southport, said Bucherati.

Detectives observed Myers enter the bank and when Myers was confronted by detectives, he drew a pistol which he had concealed in his pants. 

A tense stand-off ensued between Myers and several officers in the bank, with several officers holding Myers at gunpoint and issuing repeated orders to drop his weapon, said Bucherati.

Myers eventually lowered his pistol and then became combative with officers. He physically resisted arrest and officers used a stun gun. 

He was taken into custody and examined at the hospital due to his being tasered, he added.

During the standoff and arrest, Myers' 9-year-old son was with him, police said.

One detective sustained an injury to his knee during this incident. No shots were fired at any time.

As a continuation of this investigation, a search warrant was executed in Bridgeport by Fairfield and Bridgeport officers. 

At that time, Haase was taken into custody when more evidence of the financial crimes was located in her possession, said Bucherati.

Myers was charged with larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, robbery, threatening, reckless endangerment, assault on a police officer, interfering with an officer and risk of injury to a child.

Haase was charged with larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny and interfering with an officer. 

Myers is being held on $500,000 bond.  Haase is being held on $150,000 bond. Both are scheduled to appear in court on May 7.

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