WESTPORT — A Stamford man sped through downtown last week, blowing thorough a red traffic light and ignoring a police officer’s directive to halt, police said.

Nasiyr Judson-Saunders, 36, was charged April 7 with traveling unreasonably fast, engaging police in pursuit, violation of traffic control signals and illegally operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

The incident took place about 12:15 a.m. April 7, when a car driven north on Riverside Avenue was clocked by radar traveling at 51 mph in a 30-mph zone, according to the report.

The officer operating the radar immediately activated his cruiser’s emergency beacon and siren, and pulled out in pursuit of the speeding car, according to the report.

The driver refused to stop and headed toward downtown, stopping only briefly at a red traffic signal at the Riverside-Post Road West intersection, before speeding through the red light, police said.

The driver — identified as Judson-Saunders — finally stopped on Wilton Road, near Kings Highway North, and was placed under arrest.

Judson-Saunders was formally charged and later released after posting $500 bond. He is scheduled to appear April 29 at state Superior Court in Stamford.