Opinion ID: 2704
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Facts Supporting the Warrants

Text: 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]