October 1, 2002 |
2002-R-0795 | |
GUN SEIZURE WARRANTS | ||
By: Veronica Rose, Principal Analyst | ||
You asked how many police departments have applied for gun seizure warrants pursuant to the gun seizure law.
SUMMARY
In the three years since the gun seizure law took effect, at least 31 local police departments and the State Police have used the law to apply for warrants to seize guns from people considered at risk of hurting themselves or other people. They applied for at least 73 warrants, all but two of which the courts granted, and they seized guns in more than 62 of the cases in which warrants were granted. In all, they seized more than 729 guns.
The data show that (1) the single largest source of the allegations on which warrant applications were based was a relative and (2) the allegation most likely to trigger a warrant request was a suicide threat, followed by murder threat.
Attachment 1 shows (1) the departments that applied for warrants, (2) the subject (or target) of the warrants, (3) the source of the allegations on which the warrant applications were based, (4) allegations underlying the warrant applications, (5) whether the courts granted the applications, (6) number of guns seized, and (7) case outcomes.
GUN SEIZURE LAW
The gun seizure law, which took effect on October 1, 1999, allows police, under limited circumstances and following specified procedures, to get warrants and seize guns from anyone posing an imminent risk of harming himself or someone else. It requires a judge to hold a hearing within 14 days of the seizure and decide whether to return the guns or order them held for up to one year (CGS § 29-38c).
Police can seek the warrant only after (1) conducting an independent investigation to establish probable cause and (2) determining that no reasonable alternative exists to avert the risk of harm. The law does not define "independent investigation" or give examples of "reasonable alternatives. " But the floor debate on the bill that became law suggests what legislators had in mind. Legislators (1) indicated that they believed that as part of the investigation, police should talk to witnesses and corroborate allegations made against defendants and (2) suggested that civil commitment and arrest were reasonable alternatives to a search warrant. A Superior Court ruling that reversed a seizure under this law identified consensual search as the most obvious alternative (State of Connecticut vs. David Avery, CV11-9168A, GA 11, 12/12/1999).
APPLICATION OF THE LAW
As of October 1, 2002, at least 31 local police departments and the State Police had applied for a total of 73 warrants. The courts granted 70 of the requests. They denied (1) one Wolcott Police Department warrant for lack of probable cause and (2) one West Hartford Police Department warrant on the grounds that a search under a previous warrant involving the same subject had yielded all the guns to which the subject had access. The intended target of a Seymour Police Department warrant surrendered his guns voluntarily before the warrant was signed.
All but two of the intended targets of the warrants were male (see Attachment 1).
Department Requests for Gun Seizure Warrants
Table 1 shows that the number of warrant applications ranged from one to 13. The majority (18) of the departments applied for one warrant. The State Police applied for the most warrants-13, 18% of all applications. With regard to local police departments, West Hartford
applied for the most-eight, 11% of all applications. New Britain applied for five and Farmington applied for four. Five departments applied for three warrants, and five applied for two.
Table 1: Number of Applications by Police Department (N=73)
Department |
No. of Applications |
Department |
No. of Applications |
State Police |
13 |
East Haven |
1 |
West Hartford |
8 |
Fairfield |
1 |
New Britain |
5 |
Glastonbury |
1 |
Farmington |
4 |
Greenwich |
1 |
Enfield |
3 |
Manchester |
1 |
Milford |
3 |
North Branford |
1 |
Newington |
3 |
North Haven |
1 |
Rocky Hill |
3 |
Norwich |
1 |
Seymour |
3 |
Old Saybrook |
1 |
Hamden |
2 |
Simsbury |
1 |
Meriden |
2 |
Stamford |
1 |
Monroe |
2 |
Torrington |
1 |
Southington |
2 |
Trumbull |
1 |
West Haven |
2 |
UConn. |
1 |
Danbury |
1 |
Windsor |
1 |
Darien |
1 |
Wolcott |
1 |
Basis for Warrant Application
In 45 (62%) of the 73 cases, the warrant applications were based on murder threat, suicide threat, or both. Suicide threats alone accounted for 34% of the applications (see Figure 1). The murder threats were directed at a wide range of people, including relatives, friends and neighbors, school officials, and people at the workplace. Other factors that triggered a warrant application included violent threats, mentally unstable behavior, and reckless gun use.
Source of Allegations or Complaints
The single largest source of allegations on which warrant applications were based was a relative. A relative was the source in 18 (25%) of the cases. The second most likely source was a police officer. Other sources in descending order of frequency were clinicians, neighbors, employers, school officials, and friends (see Figure 2). In one case, the subject of the warrant called the police himself after he had attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the abdomen.
Gun Seizures Pursuant to Warrants
Police seized guns in 62 (89%) of the 70 cases in which warrants were granted. In one case, only ammunition was found and seized; in seven cases, no guns were found. The number of guns seized ranged from one to 231. In all, the departments seized more than 729 guns. The State Police seized 347 guns, the most seized by any department.
Mandatory Gun Seizure Hearing Outcomes
We were unable to get complete information on the outcomes of the mandatory hearings for determining the disposition of guns seized pursuant to the gun seizure law. But, based on the reported data, it appears that the courts upheld the seizures in all but three cases. In one of the earliest cases, the court ordered the State Police to return the seized guns on the grounds that the department had not exhausted the law's reasonable alternative standards. In another case, the court ordered the Rocky Hill Police Department to return guns on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The third case involved the Glastonbury Police Department. The court ordered the department to return the guns, but we have no information on the grounds for the order.
In all the other cases for which information is available, the court ordered the guns (1) destroyed; (2) sold; (3) transferred to a third party, such as an attorney or relative eligible to possess guns; or (3) held by the police department for up to one year.
Attachment 1: Warrant Applications Under Gun Seizure Law
Police Department |
No of Applications |
Subject of Complaint (Defendant) |
Complainant |
Allegations Against Subject and/or Basis for Warrant Application |
Warrant Issued |
Guns Seized |
Outcome |
Danbury |
1 |
Phillip L. (m) |
Unclear |
Threatened to kill law enforcement officers and others he claimed were trying to kill him (had access to guns and alleged history of drug and alcohol abuse and suicide threats) |
Yes |
8, plus ammunition and other weapons (May 2, 2000) |
Court ordered guns held for one year, on May 3, 2000; as of November 7, 2001, department still had guns and subject had not claimed them |
Darien |
1 |
Richard V. (m) |
Employer |
Threatened to kill self and terminally ill wife (faced arrest and job termination because of illegal workplace activities; police records showed that subject owned guns) |
Yes |
None found |
No hearing required-case closed |
East Haven |
1 |
Alfred G. (m) |
Wife |
Failed to surrender guns as required of person subject to protective order; repeatedly violated protective order issued because of his threats to murder wife |
Yes |
1 (July 18, 2001) |
Hearing scheduled for July 30, 2001; no information available on court order; as of September 25, 2002, department still had gun |
Enfield |
3 |
Case 1-Frank V. (m) |
Unclear |
Murder threat and veiled suicide and murder threats |
Yes |
11 (October 29, 2001) |
Hearing scheduled for November 8, 2001-no information available on court order; as of September 26, 2002, department still had guns |
|
|
Case 2-Peter V. (m) |
Unclear |
Suicidal behavior |
Yes |
20, plus ammunition (October 27, 2000) |
Court ordered guns held for one year; guns returned-case closed |
|
|
Case 3-Paul S. (m) |
Ex-wife |
Suicide threat (subject had arrest record) |
Yes |
1, plus other weapons (June 25, 2000) |
Court ordered gun held for one year; as of December 1, 2000, department still had the gun |
Fairfield |
1 |
William M. (m) |
Son |
Suicide threats (subject was target of FBI child pornography probe and raid; swallowed pills, armed self, led police in pursuit and refused to relinquish gun; police aware of subject's access to guns) |
Yes |
8, plus ammunition and accessories (April 25, 2000) |
Hearing scheduled for May 8, 2000; apparently the case was continued and the subject died before a hearing was held; police department turned guns over to gun dealer on estate's behalf-case closed |
Farmington |
4 |
Case 1-Bernard K. (m) |
Sister |
Threatened to kill sister and other family members with gun during domestic dispute; while sister on phone reporting threats, police heard subject threaten to break her neck; after police seized guns and hospitalized subject, sister expressed fear of repercussions |
Yes |
39, plus ammunition and accessories (October 19, 1999) |
Court ordered guns transferred to gun dealer for resale on consignment-case closed |
|
|
Case 2-Marc F. (m) |
Unclear |
Threatened school official and neighbor with baseball bat; barricaded self in residence where police observed him with what appeared to be a gun and heard gun slide action (had criminal record and history of alcohol abuse) |
Yes |
Ammunition only (June 10, 2001) |
Subject agreed that ammunition be turned over for destruction-case closed |
Case 3-Robert J (m) |
Unclear |
Reckless gun use; fired guns on his property that borders two residences |
Yes |
5, plus ammunition and accessories |
Court ordered guns destroyed-case closed | ||
Case 4-David D. (m) |
Police investigation |
Threatened suicide |
Yes |
2, plus ammunition and accessories (November 28, 2001) |
Court ordered guns turned over to attorney; guns turned over-case closed | ||
Glastonbury |
1 |
Michael B. (m) |
Mother |
Suicidal behavior-brandished knife at police officers who responded to 911 call and told them they would have to kill him (mother expressed concern about subject's mental state; subject had history of verbal and physical altercations with family members; claimed to have guns and described possible ambush scenarios of police officers; police records showed he had guns) |
Yes |
4 (December 27, 2000) |
Hearing scheduled for March 30, 2001; court ordered guns returned-case closed |
Greenwich |
1 |
Thomas B. (m) |
Neighbor |
During conversation with neighbor to resolve dispute with neighbor's mother-in-law, subject held a handgun at his side and repeatedly expressed his right to protect his property (police records showed (1) past episode when subject allegedly walked around his property carrying rifle; (2) subject did not have gun permit; and (3) active arrest warrant for DWI) |
Yes |
11, plus ammunition and accessories (October 28, 1999) |
Initial court order unclear, but on October 16, 2001, the court ordered the weapons destroyed; on January 3, 2002, the department turned them over to the State Police for destruction-case closed |
Hamden |
2 |
Case 1-Dean R. (m) |
Unclear |
No information available |
Yes |
1 (February 21, 2001) |
Court ordered guns held for one year on March 23, 2001; gun returned September 5 2002-case closed |
Case 2-Robert K (m) |
Husband |
Attempted suicide |
Yes |
2 (January 1, 2002) |
Court ordered guns held for one year | ||
Manchester |
1 |
Michael G. (m) |
Wife |
Threatened to kill wife (psychiatrist described subject's escalating abuse of prescription drugs and advised police that he was in imminent danger of harming himself or someone else; had access to guns) |
Yes |
6, plus ammunition and other weapons (March 8, 2000) |
Court ordered guns held for 120 days; department returned them on September 18, 2000-case closed |
Meriden |
2 |
Case 1-Joseph K. (m) |
Wife |
Physical abuse and emotional intimidation of wife-told her, while holding telescopic scope for rifle, "one shot, one kill, never miss your target" (after wife stopped sleeping with subject, he placed pistol and holster at place where she used to sleep; barricaded windows and family room to protect his guns; wife reported large arsenal of weapons) |
Yes |
37, plus ammunition and accessories and other weapons (April 11, 2001) |
Court ordered guns held for one year; as of Sept 25, 2002, department still had guns |
|
|
Case 2-Kevin B (m) |
Behavioral health caseworker |
Threatened to kill neighbor (convicted felon with extensive history of violent crimes; was under treatment for a psychiatric disability) |
Yes |
No guns found |
No hearing required-case closed |
Milford |
3 |
Case 1-Sealed juvenile case (m) |
School official |
Threatened to kill self and students; claimed access to guns and outlined possible methods of committing the acts (history of suicide threats and self mutilation; access to guns) |
Yes |
6, plus ammunition and other weapons (March 20, 2001) |
Hearing scheduled for March 30, 2001-no further information available-case sealed |
|
|
Case 2- Sealed juvenile case (m) |
School official and parent of complainant |
Threatened to shoot a student |
Yes |
19, plus ammunition and accessories, other weapons, and miscellaneous items (March 23, 2001) |
Hearing scheduled for April 4, 2001-no further information available-case sealed |
|
|
Case 3-James S. (m) |
Wife |
Wife told police that she feared for her safety and that of her neighbors; said subject, who was having dispute with neighbors, started carrying a gun and harassing and threatening to "pay back" the neighbors for allegedly trying to run him over with their car |
Yes |
13, plus ammunition and accessories (August 20, 2001) |
Judge ordered guns sold; guns sold-case closed |
Monroe |
2 |
Case 1 -Anthony T (m). |
Wife |
Threatened to shoot self and wife (history of physically abusing wife) |
Yes |
2, plus ammunition and other weapons (September 8, 2000) |
Hearing on September 22, 2000; case continued until October 18, 2000 and again until February 14, 2001; intermediate steps unclear, but on September 22, 2002, the department informed us that the case was erased. |
|
|
Case 2-Stephen S. (m) |
Victim advocate |
Subject, as condition of release for an assault crime, was not allowed to possess guns; mother and sister alleged that he had guns (subject, who was previously diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic, allegedly threatened mother and sister and put unloaded gun to his head in the past) |
Yes |
No guns found |
No hearing required-case closed |
New Britain |
5 |
Case 1-John S. (m) |
Wife |
Suicide threats (allegedly depressed and despondent because of injury that prevented him from working; refused to cooperate with police officers who responded to wife's allegations) |
Yes |
2, plus ammunition (February 20, 2001) |
Court ordered guns turned over to subject's son; guns turned over-case closed |
|
|
Case 2-Stanley M. (m) |
Unknown (record incomplete) |
Unknown (record incomplete) |
Yes |
8, plus ammunition (May 31, 2000) |
Court ordered guns transferred to gun dealer-case closed |
|
|
Case 3-unknown (incomplete record) |
Unknown (record incomplete) |
Unknown (record incomplete) |
Yes |
No guns found |
No hearing required-case closed |
|
|
Case 4-Mark Z. (m) |
Self |
Subject attempted suicide by stabbing himself in abdomen; responding police officer found a knife embedded in his abdomen |
Yes |
2, plus ammunition (August 14, 2001) |
Court ordered guns returned on August 21, 2002; subject was informed, but does not have a permit and as of September 27, 2002 has not sent a 3rd party who can legally possess guns to pick them up |
|
|
Case 5-K. T. (m) |
Wife |
Took gun to workplace and threatened to kill himself because he was apparently distressed that his wife wanted a divorce (had made several suicide threats in the past) |
Yes |
1 (October 13, 2000) |
Court ordered gun held for one year; as of September 20, 2002, department still had gun |
Newington |
3 |
Case 1-Robert S. (m) |
Veterans' Department. health care benefits provider |
Suicide threats (on medication for manic depression and sometimes became uncontrollably depressed, history of emotional instability, previously threatened to kill self and girlfriend) |
Yes |
1, plus ammunition and accessories (November 9, 1999) |
Court ordered gun held for one year; as of September 22, 2002, department still had gun |
|
|
Case 2-Robert B. (m) |
Brother |
Suicidal and threatening behavior (locked self in room with rifle after dispute with sibling and refused to respond to family; history of illegal drug use and altercations with sister) |
Yes |
5, plus ammunition (November 13, 2000) |
Court ordered guns transferred to qualified relative-case closed |
|
|
Case 3-Lee T. (m) |
Friend |
Suicide threats (previously hospitalized for suicide threat) |
Yes |
2 (from police custody) |
Case was continued from July 9 to July 16 to July 20, 2001 to accommodate a written transfer agreement. Intermediate steps unclear, but guns were released on October 9, 2001 pursuant to court order-case closed |
North Branford |
1 |
Richard M. (m) |
Police investigation |
Threatened to kill self, neighbors, and coworkers (subject was depressed because he was in danger of losing his job, previously suspended for striking coworker, and was drinking heavily and having temper tantrums; police investigation revealed subject possessed guns; psychiatrist advised police that subject was a threat to himself and others and should not possess guns) |
Yes |
5 (plus ammunition an accessories) (November 6, 1999) |
Court ordered guns held for one year on November 17, 1999; on April 6, 2000, court ordered them released to a 3rd party, who claimed them on April 21, 2000-case closed |
North Haven |
1 |
John D. (m) |
Employer |
Stalked and threatened to kill town building department employee |
Yes |
4 (February 8, 2000) |
Guns were returned to the subject in July 2000-case closed |
Norwich |
1 |
Richard G. (m) |
Former employer |
Murder threat (shortly before subject was advised of job termination for disciplinary reasons, told employees he had guns and would care of the problem) |
Yes |
2 (plus ammunition and other weapon) (November 12, 1999) |
Court ordered guns released to relative-case closed |
Old Saybrook |
1 |
Arthur G (m) |
Parent |
Threatened suicide; also brandished gun at individual and stated "I wouldn't want to have to use this. " |
Yes |
1 |
Court order unclear, but,as of September 21, 2002, the department still had gun |
Rocky Hill |
3 |
Case 1-Raymond P. (m) |
Town employee |
Threatened to kill police officer (had access to guns, history of threatening behavior, and arrest record for reckless endangerment) |
Yes |
18 (April 14, 2000) |
Court ordered guns returned on June 15, 2000 on grounds of insufficient evidence-case closed |
|
|
Case 2-Joseph S. (m) |
Estranged wife |
Threatened to kill wife (history of physical violence and arrests for domestic violence, had previously been subject of family violence protective orders; previous stay in psychiatric facility; had access to guns) |
Yes |
6 (from police department custody) (November 19, 1999) |
As of October 26, 2001, case continued indefinitely. Appears ownership of the guns is being litigated as part of marital asset in divorce case and an appeal is pending. As of September 22, 2002, guns still in department's custody |
Case 3-John B. (m) |
Mother |
Held wife and son hostage; threatened suicide |
Yes |
5, plus other weapons and ammunition |
Court ordered guns transferred to subject's mother on 7/03/02; guns transferred-case closed | ||
Seymour |
3 |
Case 1-Giovacchino (m) |
Employer of subject's ex-girlfriend |
Threatened to shoot and kill ex-girlfriend (made numerous threatening calls to her at her workplace and home; heavy drinker and drug abuser) |
Subject surrendered guns voluntarily |
No search |
No hearing required-case closed |
|
|
Case 2-Paul W. (m) |
Veterans' Home and Hospital doctor |
Suicidal and homicidal behavior (psychiatric evaluation indicated that subject was depressed and had "multiple old and new risk factors for suicide") |
Yes |
8, plus other weapons (July 19, 2001) |
Court ordered guns held until July 17, 2002-no further information available at this time |
Case-Alfred Y. (m) |
Neighbor |
Pointed gun at children; irrational behavior |
Yes |
10, plus ammunition and accessories (June 7, 2002) |
Information not available | ||
Simsbury |
1 |
Martin B. (m) |
Unclear |
Suicidal behavior (gave loaded gun to 15-year old daughter during heated argument and told her to kill him) |
Yes |
1 (February 1, 2000) |
Court ordered gun held for one year until February 9, 2001; later, court ordered the gun destroyed; department turned it over to State Police for destruction on May 9, 2001-case closed |
Southington |
2 |
Case 1-David W. (see related case below) |
Police officer |
Suicide threats |
Yes |
33, plus ammunition and accessories (July 5, 2002) |
Subject did not attend hearing; as of September 27, 2002, department still has guns-no other information available |
Case 2-David W (see related case above) |
Police officer |
Suicide threats |
Yes |
3, plus ammunition and accessories (July 10, 2002 |
Subject did not attend hearing; as of September 27, 2002, department still had guns-no other information available | ||
Stamford |
1 |
George V. (m) |
Ex-girlfriend |
Threatened ex-girlfriend with gun violence (history of physical violence and murder threats against ex-girlfriend) |
Yes |
1, plus ammunition and other weapons (seizure date not shown on warrant) |
Court ordered gun held for one year--no further information available |
Torrington |
1 |
Robert S. (m) |
Doctor |
Threatened, during session with his doctor, to kill ex-wife; told him he had house full of guns, including assault weapons (in past incident, had locked estranged wife in bedroom, kept her hostage for about 45 minutes, brandished gun at her, and threatened to shoot her) |
Yes |
35, plus other weapons and ammunition (June 21, 2000) |
Hearing scheduled for June 28, 2000; no information available on court order, but as of September 27, 2002, department still had guns in its custody |
Trumbull |
1 |
Louis K. (m) |
Health care official |
Threatened murder/suicide |
Yes |
6 (plus other weapons and ammunition) (February 22, 2002) |
Court ordered guns transferred to qualified relative; guns transferred-case closed |
UConn |
1 |
Stephen L. (m) |
School official |
Subject left numerous disturbing, angry and implicitly threatening voice mail messages for school officials after he failed several law school courses |
Yes |
No guns found |
Case closed |
West Hartford |
8 |
Case 1-Seymour C. (m) |
Police investigation |
Korean veteran having flashbacks (subject was on medication for posttraumatic stress, had emotional and mental problems, and told police he had guns) |
Yes |
7 (from police department custody) (October 15, 1999) |
Initially court ordered guns held for one year; later all parties agreed to disposition-case closed |
Case 2-Kenneth P. (m) |
Brother |
Suicidal behavior (despondent over mother's death, locked himself in his house and refused to eat or answer door or phone; was drinking heavily and was known to keep guns in his house) |
Yes |
4 (October 23, 1999) |
Court ordered guns held by police-guns turned over to subject's estate administrator-case closed | ||
Case 3-Nancy N. (f) |
Therapist |
Threatened to kill herself and partner with her gun (psychiatrist said subject was a threat to herself and others) |
Yes |
No guns found |
No hearing required-case closed | ||
Case 4-W. H. (m) |
Neighbors |
Irrational behavior-kicking garbage in the streets, firing guns recklessly, ranting at passing traffic, etc. |
Yes |
2 (plus other weapons and ammunition) |
Court ordered guns held for one year; guns returned at end of period-case closed | ||
Case 5 -Stephen C. (m) |
Unclear |
Irrational and violent behavior, smashing doors, thrashing house, etc |
Yes |
1 (August 22, 2001) |
Subject agreed that gun be turned over to State Police for destruction-case closed | ||
Case 6-Mario R. (m) |
Unclear |
Domestic dispute between couple in middle of divorce |
Yes |
1 (July 22, 2002) |
As of September 18, 2002, department still had gun | ||
Case 7-Eduardo R. (m) |
Ex-girlfriend |
Hit victim with gun and threatened to shoot her; history of physical abuse |
Yes (for guns initially taken from home and stored in department's property room) |
7, plus accessories (January 25, 2002) |
Victim changed story and withdrew allegations; no hearing required; department returned guns-case closed | ||
Case 8-Eduardo R. (m) |
Ex-girlfriend |
Hit victim with gun and threatened to shoot her; history of physical abuse |
No (for car and other premises not searched under previous warrant) |
NA |
NA-case closed | ||
West Haven |
2 |
Case 1-Kurt H. (m) |
Employer |
Despondent behavior and suicidal talk over prospect of losing his job (told police that they may as well put bullet in his head; had access to guns and arrest record for domestic violence) |
Yes |
1, plus ammunition and accessories (March 16, 2001) |
Hearing scheduled for March 30, 2001; intermediate steps unclear, but guns were returned on August 27, 2001-case closed |
Case 2-Donald M. (m) |
Police investigation |
Vandalism involving gun use (subject, a bipolar, alcoholic individual, recklessly discharged gun in backyard, damaging property) |
Yes |
1, plus ammunition, other weapons, and accessories (July 12, 2002) |
Information on court decision not available, but, as of September 26, 2002, department still had gun | ||
Windsor |
1 |
David H. (m) |
Information unavailable |
Information unavailable |
Yes |
3 (September 10, 2001) |
Court ordered guns held for one year |
Wolcott |
1 |
Craig P. (m) |
Mother |
Suicide threats (subject previously hospitalized for suicidal tendencies; had gun permit) |
Denied (lack of probable cause) |
No search required |
Subject committed suicide-case closed |
State Police |
13 |
Case 1-David A. (m) (Danielson) |
Police investigation |
Road rage (deputy sheriff, while drunk, pursued black couple on highway, directed racial slurs at them, and fired shots at them) |
Yes |
7, plus ammunition and other weapons (November 1, 1999) |
Court ordered guns returned because department had not exhausted the law's reasonable alternative standards; attorney was notified but, as of October 27, 2001, had not yet collected the guns |
|
|
Case 2-Edward S. (m) (Tolland) |
Visiting nurse |
Suicide threats (threatened to blow off his head because he was depressed over wife's death; doctor expressed concern over guns in subject's house) |
Yes |
12 (plus ammunition and accessories (November 18, 1999) |
Court ordered guns held for one year on January 5, 2000-no further information available |
|
|
Case 3-Michael S. (m) (Salem) |
Police investigation |
Mental instability (history of felony arrests, institutionalization for mental condition, and violent behavior) |
Yes |
72 (plus ammunition and accessories) (August 2, 2000) |
Court ordered guns transferred to a 3rd party-case closed |
|
|
Case 4-Robert B. (m) (Monroe) |
Sister-in-law |
Sister-in-law expressed fear of subject after her actions led to his arrest of subject; subject had access to large collection of guns; went to sister-in-law's residence while armed to claim property (previously threatened to kill former employer) |
Yes |
231 (August 30, 2000) |
Court ordered (1) one assault weapon destroyed and the balance returned to subject and (2) other guns transferred to gun dealer; guns transferred to dealer on December 6, 2000; assault weapons returned to subject on March 22, 2001-case closed |
|
|
Case 5-Jerome F. (m) (see related case below) (Troop K) |
Neighbor/police investigation |
Violent threats, including gun threats directed at neighbor (left numerous violent and incoherent telephone messages with police department; told police he had guns; had criminal record) |
Yes |
1, plus ammunition and accessories (February 16, 2001) |
Hearing set for March 1, 2001, continued to May 9, 2001; police will continue to hold guns pending final disposition |
|
|
Case 6-Jerome F. (m) (see related case above) (Troop K) |
Police investigation |
Violent threats directed at neighbor in calls to police department (had criminal record; police had applied for a warrant to seize guns from subject after similar incident in past) |
Yes |
1 flare launcher (September 26, 2001) |
Court ordered weapon destroyed-case closed |
|
|
Case 7-Robert L. (m) (Montville) (Troop E) |
Psychiatric clinician |
Expressed homicidal thoughts to doctor about neighbors and tenant (subject was being treated for depression, anger management, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and mental problems; made several suicide attempts; had access to large cache of guns |
Yes |
7 (March 8, 2001) |
Case continued to May 16, 2002-police still holding guns |
|
|
Case 8-Frank A. (m) (Ellington) (Troop C) |
Unclear |
Threatened to commit suicide with gun (history of hospitalization and treatment for mental health problems) |
Yes |
Unknown number of guns seized from State Police custody (subject had initially given voluntary consent to search and remove guns from home) |
Subject agreed to have State Police destroy weapons; before written agreement was completed, subject committed suicide-case closed |
|
|
Case 9-Robert P. (m) Litchfield (Troop L) |
Drug and Detoxification center employee |
Threatened to kill self and sister (history of voluntary and involuntary commitment for alcohol abuse; police records showed subject owned several guns) |
Yes |
2 (plus ammunition accessories, and other weapon) (July 11, 2000) |
Hearing scheduled for July 21, 2000-no further information available |
Case 10-Ray R. (m) (Troop A ) |
Information unavailable at this time |
Hit and threatened to harm his wife |
Yes |
1 (July 17, 2002) |
Information unavailable | ||
Case 11-Alexander S. (m) (Troop B) |
Information unavailable at this time |
Threatened suicide with gun |
Yes |
1 (March 14, 2002) |
Information unavailable | ||
Case 12-Audrey J. (f) (Troop H) |
Police officer |
Suicide threat |
Yes |
3 (April 23, 2002) |
Court ordered guns held for one year on May 6, 2002 | ||
Case 13-Joseph C. (m) (Troop H) |
Unclear |
Family violence complaint; subject hospitalized in past for threatening suicide and threatening to harm wife with gun; history of alcohol abuse) |
Yes |
10 (April 16, 2002) |
Court ordered guns turned over to police department pursuant to a family violence protective order-no further information available at this time |
· This report is based largely on Judicial Department information and two OLR surveys of the State Police and local police departments. Because, among other things, departments do not maintain their data in a readily retrievable format and some departments did not respond to the surveys, the figures in this report represent the minimum, and not necessarily the total, number of applications under this law. Closed cases are shown in red.
VR: ro