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At 1:23 p.m., SWAT team members seized Devante Laurel, 24, in the rear parking lot of 26 North St., at Millenio Barbershop, police said.
Laurel was followed to the barber shop after he appeared in Danbury Superior Court on unrelated offenses and was seen engaging in several suspected drug deals minutes before he was seized, police said.
A subsequent search turned up an illegal handgun and drugs in his possession, police said.
Police said the markings on the handgun had been intentionally altered, he had no weapons permit and he was forbidden to possess a firearm due to a prior court order.
Laurel was then placed under arrest.
An arrest warrant for Laurel had been issued as a result of an investigation that began weeks earlier in response to complaints that he was selling illegal drugs and carrying a handgun in Danbury, according to police.
Based on surveillance of Laurel and other investigative techniques, investigators were able to detect activity consistent illegal drugs trafficking, police said.
Laurel was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, altering markings on a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, violation of conditions of release, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a daycare, possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a daycare, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a daycare, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a daycare, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was held on $250,000 bond, police said.
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