Gun Goes Off During Arrest –

Elderly Hunter Arrested After

Confrontation With DEP Officers

By Andrew Gorosko

An 86-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with six offenses Monday, including first-degree assault, following a hunting incident off Platts Hill Road, in which a shotgun he was using discharged during a confrontation with two state conservation officers, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). There were no injuries.

Two DEP conservation officers arrested John N. Marcos of Bridgeport late Monday morning for hunting for small game without the permission of the property owner, said Sergeant Raul Camejo of the DEP’s law enforcement unit.

Mr Marcos apparently was hunting for rabbit when the owner of the property approached him to inform him that he did not have permission to hunt that property, Sgt Camejo said. After Mr Marcos failed to leave the property, the landowner notified DEP of the problem, according to the sergeant.

On arriving at the scene, DEP conservation officers Jon Hey and Jeffrey Samorajczyk, who were both in uniform, identified themselves as conservation officers and approached Mr Marcos, Sgt Camejo said.

The officers told Mr Marcos that he was hunting without the landowner’s permission and that he should turn on the safety switch on the shotgun, to prevent it from firing, and then leave the property, the sergeant said.

During the course of the incident, Mr Marcos pointed the shotgun at Officer Hey’s stomach, an altercation ensued, and the shotgun discharged a round into the ground, Sgt Camejo said.

The property where the incident occurred is locally known as Rivnak’s Farm.

The conservation officers transported Mr Marcos to the Newtown police station where they charged, fingerprinted, and booked him on charges of first-degree assault, criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, third-degree criminal trespassing, interfering with a police officer, unlawful discharge of a weapon, and reckless endangerment.

Sgt Camejo said Mr Marcos was released into the custody of his attorney and signed a written promise to appear December 11 in Danbury Superior Court to answer the charges.