Opinion ID: 2704
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Events Relating to the Challenged Arrest and Searches

Text: Despite the state courts' unequivocal rejection of his adverse possession claim, Walczyk persisted in asserting a superior interest in the disputed land. On April 9, 1999, he visited the Farmington Police Department to complain about Barberino's development efforts, insisting to defendant Captain James Rio that he (Walczyk) had a common law right to the land because he had been farming and maintaining it for some time. Arrest Warrant Aff. at 2. When Rio explained that the police had received notice of the court order to the contrary, Walczyk stated that he expected to secure reversal of that judgment based on witness perjury and judicial misconduct. More significantly for purposes of the issues raised on this appeal, Walczyk told Rio that, [i]f you guys don't comply with what I'm telling you I'll take matters into my own hands. Id. Rio warned Walczyk not to do anything illegal, but Walczyk stated that he would do what [he] had to do to protect his property. Id. (alteration in original).
Some five months later, on August 30, 1999, Walczyk called the Farmington police to complain again that Barberino personnel were trespassing on the disputed property. Responding to the scene, Officer David Hebert explained to Walczyk that the police could not act on his trespass complaint without some documentary support for his property claim. In his report of the encounter, Hebert noted that Walczyk made some off color com[m]ents that the police were not taking the action needed to avoid a `blood bath.' Police Rpt., Aug. 30, 1999, at 1. [4] At Walczyk's subsequent criminal trial, Hebert explained that, although he considered this remark offensive, he did not immediately place Walczyk under arrest because the officer did not feel any direct threat to himself. Nevertheless, he did understand Walczyk's comment as a threat toward the Barberino Corporation and who[m]ever they were going to have down there working. Trial Tr. vol. 1, 56, Mar. 23, 2001. Indeed, Hebert informed Barberino of the bloodbath statement, prompting its counsel to contact Captain Rio to request police protection at the disputed property site during any work periods.
Soon thereafter, Rio reviewed Hebert's report of his August 30, 1999 encounter with Walczyk. Rio was, of course, aware of Walczyk's earlier statement that, if police did not assist him in his land dispute, he would take matters into his own hands and do what he had to do to protect his rights. Moreover, Rio knew that Walczyk was the licensed owner of a variety of firearms and that, over the years, he had responded to various situations by displaying, discharging, or threatening to discharge a firearm. In addition to the 1981 and 1988 incidents, detailed supra at 145-46, during which Walczyk had brandished firearms specifically at Barberino workers, these situations included a 1990 road-rage incident during which Walczyk, armed with a loaded AK-47 rifle, confronted an angry motorist who had followed him home; [5] a 1992 complaint by neighbors that Walczyk shot a cat in his backyard; [6] and a 1996 argument during which Walczyk threatened to shoot his brother John for using the undeveloped land for driving practice. [7] Viewing the bloodbath comment in this larger context, Rio concluded that the events of August 30, 1999, demonstrated probable cause to arrest Walczyk for the Connecticut Class A misdemeanor of threatening, see Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-62(a), [8] and to search Walczyk's home and that of his parents for firearms that could be used as instrumentalities of the bloodbath threat. Rio did not speak with Officer Hebert before making this determination, but he did consult with a state's attorney, who concurred in the captain's probable cause assessment. Rio then communicated the relevant circumstances to defendant Sergeant William Tyler and directed him to prepare the paperwork necessary to procure an arrest warrant for Walczyk. After Tyler completed and signed the arrest warrant, he and Rio used the same information to prepare search warrant applications for the homes of Thomas Walczyk and his parents. These papers were then given to defendants Corporal Angela Deschenes and Officer Shawn Brown, who acted as affiants for the search warrant applications. On September 4, 1999, a magistrate authorized the arrest and search warrants. [9]
Because plaintiffs claim, inter alia, that the warrant affidavits, on their face, fail to establish probable cause to support the challenged arrest and searches, we here reproduce the facts as detailed in the affidavits: On 08-30-99, Officer Hebert of the Farmington Police Department responded to [a] trespassing complaint made by Mr. Thomas Walczyk . . ., 27 Tunxis Street, Farmington, CT. Walczyk complained of trespassing by employees of the Barberino Realty & Development Corporation on property located on Tunxis Street. Walczyk has had a long standing dispute over that property and has made claims in the past that he has common law rights to the land. Walczyk told Officer Hebert that the Farmington Police were not taking the action needed to avoid a bloodbath. Officer Hebert reported Walczyk's complaint to Mr. [Stephen] Barberino Jr., the owner of the land in question. As a result of Walczyk's threat of a bloodbath, Atty Robert Reeve, representing Barberino, contacted Capt. James Rio of the Farmington Police Department. Reeve expressed concerns for the safety of employees during imminent construction work planned for the Tunxis Street property. He requested extra police presence during work periods. In the early spring of 1999, the Farmington Police Department received a letter from Barberino Jr.'s attorney along with a copy of a March 14, 1997 decision made by the State of Connecticut Superior Court regarding the issue of the land in question. The decision by Judge Christine E. Keller was in favor of Barberino Realty & Development Corp., and stated that Thomas Joseph Walczyk has no estate, interest in or encumbrance of said real property or any part thereof. During late winter of 1998 and early spring of 1999 Walczyk came to the Farmington Police Department to speak with Capt. Rio about the land dispute and the impending land development. He told Capt. Rio at that time that he had a common law right to the land because he had been farming and maintaining it for some time. Walczyk said that he was in the process of getting a Superior Court ruling to reverse the one made in Barberino's favor. He claimed that Stephen Barberino Jr. had perjured himself and the presiding Judge had acted inappropriately. Capt. Rio explained that the Farmington Police had been advised of the ruling in favor of Barberino and that until we were officially notified otherwise, all parties and the police department would have to abide by the last court ruling. Walczyk responded that, If you guys don't comply with what I'm telling you I'll take matters into my own hands. Capt. Rio advised Walczyk against any illegal actions to which Walczyk responded that he would, . . . do what [he] had to do to protect his property. The Farmington Police Department has investigated Walczyk on previous occasions for incidents involving threatening during which times he has either threatened the use of or displayed a gun. On 09-15-96 Officer Charette of the Farmington Police Department investigated a disturbance on Tunxis Street involving Walczyk and his brother. The argument was over property on Tunxis Street for which Thomas Walczyk was suing his parents. His brother claimed that Walczyk pushed him and threatened to shoot him. His brother felt no imminent threat but was concerned because he knew Walczyk owned numerous guns. Walczyk denied making the threat and no arrest was made. On 02-15-92 Walczyk was arrested in Farmington for cruelty to animals and unlawful discharge of a firearm. Neighbors reported seeing him shoot a cat on his property with a handgun. On 12-08-90 neighbors complained that Walczyk was shooting guns on property at the end of Tunxis Street. He was shooting but was not in violation. On 07-30-90 Walczyk was arrested by the Farmington Police for threatening. A motorist followed Walczyk home to complain about the way he was driving. Walczyk went inside and came back with a A-K assault rifle and an argument ensued. The assault rifle was taken as evidence. It was loaded with twenty rounds of ammunition. On 03-24-88 the Farmington Police Department responded to a disturbance at Tunxis Street. The disturbance was over the same land dispute between Walczyk and Barberino employees. Barberino employees were working on the land. Walczyk approached them carrying an AR 15 assault rifle ordering them to get off his property. One of the employee[ ]s complained that Walczyk had pointed the gun directly at him. Walczyk was arrested for threatening, reckless endangerment, and interfering with police. He denied actually pointing the gun at anyone. The gun was seized as evidence. It contained one .223 round in the chamber and twenty-nine rounds in the magazine. Walczyk fought with officers prior to being arrested. As of 09-03-99, Walczyk, according to Connecticut State Police records, has the following handguns registered in his name. 1. Colt model 1903, 32 caliber, ser. #: 354507. 2. Colt Govt. Model, 45 caliber, ser. #: 40562G70. 3. Smith & Wesson model 629, 44 caliber, ser. #: N872450. 4. Walthers Woodsman model, .22 caliber, ser. #: 142639. He also has the following assault weapons registered in his name. 1. Non-classified, 86S, ser. #: A000316. 2. Ruger (SR), Mini-14, ser. #: 18465824. 3. Colt, AR15-A2 H-BAR, ser. #: 325465. 4. Non-classified, MAK-90, ser. #: 9362979. That a review of Farmington Police records indicate[s] that Walczyk has maintained residences at both 27 and 28 Tunxis St., Farmington, CT. That town of Farmington property records show that 27 Tunxis Street is owned by Lucian Walzak [sic], and 28 Tunxis Street is owned by Thomas Walzak [sic]. Search Warrant Aff. and App. at 2-3. [10]
The challenged warrants were executed on September 7, 1999. On that date, defendant Sergeant James Jepsen contacted Thomas Walczyk and, on the pretense of wishing to discuss the land dispute, proposed a meeting at the police station. Upon Walczyk's arrival, Sergeant Tyler placed him under arrest and detained him in a cell block on $10,000 bail. [11] Walczyk remained in custody until later that day, when his mother posted bail. While Walczyk was in custody, a team of officers, including Sergeant Jepsen and defendant Detective Brian Killiany executed the challenged search warrants, seizing nearly 60 licensed firearms from Thomas Walczyk's home and 18 licensed firearms from his parents' home, as well as approximately 2,600 rounds of ammunition, gun clips, ammunition belts, and other items related to firearms' use.