Wilton Police Thwart Subject Who Had Assault Rifle, Drugs

A man with an fully-loaded assault rifle and a cache of drugs was taken in to custody by Wilton Police yesterday before things potentially got out of control.

According to Captain John Lynch, on Wednesday at 10 a.m. the Wilton Police Department received a photograph allegedly taken by a Hulda Hill Road man, which was forwarded to them by one of his acquaintances. The acquaintance said the man might have intended to harm himself, according to police. The photograph "was of an assault rifle surrounded by medication (pills) and what appeared to be a handwritten will," Lynch said in a press release.

"Upon receiving this information it was determined that the information was legitimate and an urgent response was needed," Lynch said. "The Wilton Police Department gathered information including statements, intelligence regarding the residence, neighborhood, access and a complete history of the subject including innocent parties who may have been or could be endangered."

Lynch said the Southwest Emergency Response Team was assembled, and that the team was trained "in many different facets of emergency rescue, search, forced entry, negotiating, surveillance and snipers." Other officers were called on-scene as well.

"A command center was established with Wilton Fire and EMS placed on stand-by," Lynch said. "An operations plan was created and put into place along with contingency plans to address all possible scenarios."

Lynch said that officials evacuated several homes in the area that could have been affected by an incident, should it have happened, and that the bus company was advised to not permit school bus traffic from going near the house. A guest inside the house in question was also able to leave unharmed.

"Once this was complete, the SWERT negotiators made contact with the despondent subject by phone," Lynch said. "They were able to speak with him and convince him to exit the home peacefully. He was then taken into protective custody without incident."

Police said a fully-loaded AR-15 assault rifle was located behind the front door at the residence. 

The Hulda Hill resident was due to undergo a psychological examination, as per state law.