A Hartford Fire Department lieutenant was arraigned on 29 counts of risk of injury to a minor in Hartford Superior Court today. This as a result of Hartford Police finding 29 unloaded guns in his Canaan Street home in Hartford yesterday when they responded to a call of a domestic dispute.
In addition to being forced to hand over all firearms and permits, Judge James Bentivegna this afternoon issued a protective order mandating that Michael Patterson, 43, stay away from his home, which he shares with his wife, their three children and his mother in law. In fact, it was his mother in law who called the police.
“The reason why is he’s a kind of guy you can’t talk to. He gets really upset. And, I’m afraid of that,” said Cynthia Chevannes, Patterson’s mother in law.
Patterson’s attorney scolded Hartford Police, saying they know they’ve got nothing on her client.
“Mr. Patterson was held on a $500,000 bond, which later appeared to be a $300,000 bond, which was then reduced to a promise to appear,” said Attorney Rachel Baird.
And, Baird claims her client was not in violation of the statute which regulates the storage of firearms in this state.
“The firearms are prohibited from being around children only when they are loaded. There was no loaded firearm in this man’s house,” claims Baird.
Patterson, 43, who was released on a written promise to appear, will next be in court on October 16 for a Fernando hearing.
“A Fernando hearing will challenge the protective order, will challenge the order that he not possess firearms and will challenge the order that has thrown this man out of his home,” said Baird.