Life lessons

Note to self:

1. Don't send the flowers, call or try to see her.
2. Make sure the bike is fueled up.
3. Buy flares.
4. Get out of town when things get hot.
5. Respects others and their requests.
6. Check muffler on bike.

It seems that on June 11 2007, Brian Campbell, 39, of West Haven CT didn't take "his" list with him or even remember most of the items on it when Middletown police made contact with him on Silver St around 1pm. As police were preparing to arrest him in connection with alleged violations of a restraining order, he decided to flee.

Instead of using a much more quiet method of escape such as, I don't know, maybe sneakers, Campbell fled on his motorcycle. When police in Cromwell spotted him near the intersection of Main and West streets, he pointed a flare gun to head and pulled the trigger twice. On the second pull, the gun exploded in Campbell's hand, leaving him apparently uninjured. After wavering for a moment on his motorcycle, he dropped the gun and took off again on. Cromwell police collected his gun from the scene and gave chase until Campbell entered Route 9 north.

He didn't get very far, as Meridan police arrested Campbell around 5 pm that night and he was transported back up to Middletown. A brief check of him revealed what appeared to be bruises and swelling to the right side of his head due to the gun explosion.

Middletown police charged Campbell with driving with a suspended license, escape from custody and three counts of violating a restraining order and bail was set at $500,000. Cromwell police have charged him with driving with a suspended license, criminal possession of a firearm, engaging an officer in pursuit and unlawful discharge of a firearm. The remains of the flare gun they scooped up at the scene was found to be loaded with a single shotgun shell and hadn't been "defective" when it exploded. They also placed a $100,000 bond on him.

New note to self:

1. Restraining order really means no contact.
2. When they say halt, that is a good idea.
3. Shotgun shells look a bit like a flare but they aren't.
4. Who would have thought, two departments, two different bails?