Edward Peruta
Regular Member
imported post
This narative of what is alledged to have happened on the night of May 16th has been taken from public records obtained from the Prosecutor in GA 7 on May 25th when the false charge of Disorderly Condcut was dismissed.
Mr. Richard Burgess is currently in the process of obtaining more records and recordings that will tell the story. OBVIOUSLY THIS INCIDENT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND REVEALED SO EVERYONE CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE LAW.
On 05/16/10 at approximately 1910 hrs, I was dispatched to 950 Yale Avenue in Wallingford along with Ofc. Garcia, Ofc. Gonzalez, Ofc. Fraenza, and Sgt. Colavolpe for the report of a man carrying an exposed firearm inside Yale Billiards. Yale Billiards is a recreational billiards hall with a full service liquor bar and numerous pool tables. We arrived on scene at approximately 1918 hrs and met in the parking lot with the complainant Mark Vanaman (DOB 4/24/65).
Vanaman explained to me that there was a white male wearing green shorts and a navy blue t-shirt carrying a fully exposed firearm in a holster on his right hip along with two magazines on the small of his back. He explained that he asked the man, later identified as Richard Burgess (DOB REDACTED) to conceal his weapon and the he told him, and Burgess told him that he can legally carry it this way and to get away from him. Vanaman told Burgess again that it was illegal to carry his firearm exposed like that and he was making people uncomfortable. Vanaman told him that if he did not conceal it then he was going to call the police, and Burgess told him to do what he had to do. Vanaman then walked outside and called the Wallingford Police Department to report the incident. While Vanaman was outside, Burgess and his girlfriend, who was later identified as Anna Marie FiIipkowska (DOB REDACTED) went outside and sat on a bench directly to the left of the front door to the establishment. Ofc. Gonzalez and Ofc. Fraenza went to the rear of the building to ensure that Burgess did not try to leave the area while Sgt Colavolpe, Ofc. Garcia, and I approached the front of Yale Billiards. We located Burgess sitting on a bench outside the establishment. Burgess had a semi-automatic handgun in a holster on his belt, along with two magazines. All three items were clearly visible, as the subject had his shirt tucked into his waistband. Sgt Colavolpe immediately seized the firearm along with the two fully loaded magazines from Burgess. The gun was identified as a 40 caliber Glock 23 semi-automatic handgun, was fully loaded, and had a round in the chamber. Burgess was then handcuffed by Ofc. Garcia. Burgess then asked, "What am I being arrested for." Sgt Colavolpe then explained that he was being arrested for Disorderly Conduct and then Burgess said, "If you arrest me then you will have big problems because I am allowed to open carry like this, read the paperwork." Burgess had paperwork on the bench next to him. The paperwork was in a pamphlet format titled, "Is That Legal? A guide to understanding your CT gun rights". Burgess had a CT Pistol Permit in his possession. The handgun was verified by the State Police Message Center as being registered and was negative for any hits in NCIC.
I then spoke with the owner of Yale Billiards, Robert Hilton (DOB 6/20/68). Hilton stated that Burgess had been in his establishment for approximately one hour when several people began to come up to him and tell him that there was a man with a gun playing pool making them feel uncomfortable. Hilton then asked Burgess to please conceal his weapon while inside his establishment. Burgess then told him that he was trying to make a point and that it is his right to open carry his gun. Burgess then handed him paperwork regarding carrying firearms in Connecticut. Hilton then explained that it would be best if he left the establishment. Burgess agreed and he and Filipkowska went outside and sat on a bench just to the left of the front door.
Hilton then called the Wallingford Police Department to report the incident because he did not believe that it was legal to have the gun exposed. Burgess told me, as well as Hilton that he was trying to make a point. Burgess undoubtedly made a point and caused inconvenience, annoyance, and alarm to patrons inside Yale Billiards. It estimated that there were approximately twenty to twenty-five patrons inside Yale Billiards while Burgess was there. Burgess was transported to Wallingford Police Headquarters by Ofc. Garcia. He was fingerprinted and processed, UAR #2043924. Burgess was charged with Disorderly Conduct in violation of C.G.S. 53a-182. He was released on a Written Promise to Appear and given a court date of 5/25/10 for 0900 hrs at G.A. 7.
The 40 caliber Glock 23 handgun, three Glock brand 13 round capacity magazines, and 40 Winchester brand 40 caliber hollow point rounds were seized. The items were returned to Burgess upon his release from headquarters and he acknowledged receipt by signing the Return of Compliance section of the Inventory of Property Seized Without a Search Warrant Form.
Case closed by arrest, End of Report.
SUPPLEMENTAL NARRATIVE:
On 5/16/10 when Burgess was released from custody I escorted him outside to the front of the police department to release his firearm, magazines, and bullets to him. When I handed Burgess his property he said, "Thank you for being so polite, I appreciate it, but you know you are going to see me again." He then shook my hand, took possession of his property, and left.
On 5/17/10 at approximately 1715 hrs, I went to Yale Billiards located at 950 Yale Avenue, unit25 in Wallingford to speak with the owner Robert Hilton regarding the incident that occurred in his establishment the previous night. Hilton was attempting to download the video surveillance of the incident that occurred on 5/16/1 O. Hilton agreed to provide me with a voluntary sworn statement regarding the incident.
Summary of Hilton's Written Statement:
Hilton explained that on 5/16/10 at about 6: 10 pm he arrived to work at Yale Billiards and there were approximately 35 patrons inside the establishment. A white male wearing shorts, a navy blue shirt, and his hair in a pony tail came in at about 6:55 pm with a female with curly blond hair. Sarah Dobensky and Dave Zaborowski were inside the establishment and told Hilton that there was a man playing pool with a fully exposed gun on his hip. Hilton explained that Dobensky told him the man with the gun was making her uncomfortable, so he went and asked the man to cover up his gun. The man told him that he would not cover it up because he was trying to make a point. Another male named Greg (last name unknown) expressed his concern to Hilton about the man with the gun just as another patron, Mark Vanaman was telling the man with the gun that what he was doing was illegal. Hilton then asked the man with the gun to leave because he felt uncomfortable, was concerned for the safety of his customers, and thought that it might be illegal. The man with the gun then went outside and sat on bench with the female that he arrived with.
Refer to written statement for further details.
While I was taking the statement from Hilton, Burgess (the man with the gun from 5/16/10) arrived on scene. Hilton went to speak with him and Burgess asked Hilton if it was okay that he was here. Hilton asked him if he was carrying a weapon and he said, "No." Burgess then explained that he wanted to speak to Hilton and that he had a news reporter that wanted to speak to him as well. Hilton explained to Burgess that he was busy, but he could wait if he wanted to. Burgess went outside and waited on the same bench that he sat on 5/16/10.
I then then spoke to another patron of Yale Billiards, Dave Zaborowski who was present the night during the incident. Zaborowski agreed to provide me with a voluntary sworn statement.
Summary of Zaborowski's Statement:
Zaborowski explained that on 5/16/1 0 at about 6:30 pm, he went to Yale Billiards to hang out and play pool. He noticed a white male with shorts, a blue shirt, and a pony tail. He noticed that the male had what appeared to be a fully exposed gun on his hip and two extra clips on his belt. He explained that he never saw anyone carry a weapon like that and wondered why this man needed so much protection. He then told his friend Bobby (Hilton) about the man with the gun and pointed out that he was playing pool right next to a man with a younger kid. Refer to written statement for further details.
On 5/17/1 0 I spoke to Sarah Dobensky over the telephone because she was in New Jersey for the next week. Dobensky is an employee of Yale Billiards and opened the establishment on 5116/10 at approximately 1650 hrs. I spoke with Dobensky and she explained what occurred to me. I then asked Dobensky if she was willing to provide me with a tape recorded statement of her account of what occurred inside Yale Billiards on 511611O. Dobensky agreed and allowed me to record our conversation on 5/17/10. After finishing the statement, Dobensky swore to it.
Summary of Dobensky's Statement:
Dobensky stated that she opened Yale Billiards on 5/16/1 0 at approximately 4:50 P.M. She reported that between 5:30 and 6:30 a bigger white male wearing brown shorts, a blue T-shirt tucked into his shorts, and his hair in a pony tail came in. She then overheard Dave Zaborowski say, "Does that guy have a gun." She looked over and noticed the male with the brown shorts and blue T-shirt had a gun on his hip in an orange colored holster fully exposed. She also noticed that he had two extra clips near his back. She stated that she had never seen this man before, she felt nervous, and uncomfortable especially because there was a man and a young kid playing pool right next to the man with the gun. She asked her boss, Robert Hilton if he would go and speak to the man with the gun because she felt uncomfortable.
She explained that Hilton went over to speak with the man with the gun then began walking away, when another patron, named Mark Vanaman approached the man. Dobensky explained that Vanaman told the man with the gun that he was not allowed to carry a gun like that not concealed and that he was calling the police. She noticed that just after this, that the two tables next to the man with the gun picked up their things and left the establishment suddenly. Hilton then walked back over to the man with the gun and asked him to leave. Shortly after, the man packed up his things and went outside and sat on a bench outside the establishment.
Refer to recorded statement for further details.
On 5/17/1 0 at approximately 2142 hrs Mark Vanaman came to the Wallingford Police Department and agreed to provide me with a voluntary sworn statement regarding an incident that occurred on 5/16/10 at approximately 1900 hrs.
Summary of Vanaman's Statement:
Vanaman explained that on 5/16/10 at 6:00 P.M. he went to Yale Billiards located at 950 Yale Avenue, Wallingford to play in a pool league that he is in. (Statement reads 5/17/1 0, should read 5/16/10.)
Shortly after 7:00 P.M. he noticed about four tables away there was a white male approximately 5'7" to 5'8" tall, approximately 250 pounds with a mustache, goatee, and wearing his hair in a pony tail. He noticed the male was wearing a gun on his right hip in a holster and two extra clips on his belt. He watched the owner Robert Hilton speak to the man with the gun then walk away. He then approached the male and asked him if he was going to cover his gun up. The male asked Vanaman if he was a police officer and he replied that he was a concerned citizen. The male with the gun then said, "Then get the **** away from me." Vanaman told the man that he was going to call the police if e did not cover his weapon. The man with the gun replied, "Good that's what I want you to do." Vanaman explained that he has had a valid Connecticut Pistol Permit for the past 24 years, but was not carrying a firearm on 5/16/10 while he was in the pool hall. He also explained that he has been a Bail Enforcement Agent for the past 8 years and that he has never seen anyone carry their weapon in the open like this man was doing.
Vanaman explained that he became very concerned for the safety of himself and others in the pool hall because in his opinion this was not normal behavior. He also felt threatened by the man's actions because he did not know him or what he was going to do with his weapon. Vanaman went outside, about 75 feet away from the establishment, called the police, and waited there until they arrived.
Refer to written statement for further details.
On 5/18/1 0 at approximately 1645 hrs Detective Houlihan and I went to Yale Billiards to retrieve the surveillance video from 5/16/10. Hilton explained to us that when he went to watch the video that he had downloaded for us, he discovered that it was during the morning hours, 12 hours prior to the time of the incident. Hilton explained that the time on the recorder was off and he had been unaware of it. He then attempted to watch the correct time, but it had already been recorded over. The video was irretrievable.
End of Supplemental Narrative
STATEMENT TAKEN BY: Ofc. D. Flood #175.
I Mark Vanaman do hereby give this statement to Officer Flood of my my own free will and under no threats or promises made to me regarding the following incident which occurred on or about 5/17/10 at approximately 7:05 P.M. I live at the above address with my family and have resided there for the past 12 years. I am employed as a bail bondsman.
On 5/17/10 at approximately 6:00 P.M. I went to Yale Billiards located at 950 Yale Avenue Wallingford to play pool in a league that I am in. At about 7:05 P.M. I noticed about 4 pool tables away from me a white male approximately 5'0 7" to 5’ 08” tall, approximately 250 pounds with a mustache, goatee, and his hair in a pony tail. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. I noticed the male was wearing a gun on his right hip in a holster and two extra clips on his belt. I also observed that Robert Hilton, the owner of Yale Billiards was talking with the man wearing the gun. I waited for Robert to walk away from the man to see if-he was going to cover up his weapon. I saw that he began shooting pool again and noticed that he did not cover up his weapon. I then approached the man and asked him if he was going to cover up his weapon. The male then asked me if I was a police officer. I replied, "No", a concerned citizen. The man then replied, "Then get the **** away from me. "I then said back to him, "Are you going to cover your weapon or not." He then said, “No I am not going to cover my weapon." I told him if he was not going to cover his weapon then I was going to call the police. The many replied, "Good that's what I want you to do.
I Mark Vanaman have had a valid Connecticut Pistol Permit for the past 24 years, but was not carrying a firearm this night 5/16/1O. I have been a Bail Enforcement Agent with the State of Connecticut for the last 8 years. In all of my experiences I have never seen anyone carry their weapon out in the open like this man was doing. I became very concerned for the safety of myself and the other people in the pool hall because in my opinion this was not normal behavior. I felt threatened by this man's actions because I did not know him or what he was going to do with his weapon. I then walked outside into the parking lot approximately 75 feet away from the establishment and called the Wallingford Police to report the incident. The Wallingford Police arrived a short time later and I met them in the parking lot. When they arrived I lifted my shirt up and turned around in a circle to show the police that. I was not carrying a weapon.
This narative of what is alledged to have happened on the night of May 16th has been taken from public records obtained from the Prosecutor in GA 7 on May 25th when the false charge of Disorderly Condcut was dismissed.
Mr. Richard Burgess is currently in the process of obtaining more records and recordings that will tell the story. OBVIOUSLY THIS INCIDENT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND REVEALED SO EVERYONE CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE LAW.
On 05/16/10 at approximately 1910 hrs, I was dispatched to 950 Yale Avenue in Wallingford along with Ofc. Garcia, Ofc. Gonzalez, Ofc. Fraenza, and Sgt. Colavolpe for the report of a man carrying an exposed firearm inside Yale Billiards. Yale Billiards is a recreational billiards hall with a full service liquor bar and numerous pool tables. We arrived on scene at approximately 1918 hrs and met in the parking lot with the complainant Mark Vanaman (DOB 4/24/65).
Vanaman explained to me that there was a white male wearing green shorts and a navy blue t-shirt carrying a fully exposed firearm in a holster on his right hip along with two magazines on the small of his back. He explained that he asked the man, later identified as Richard Burgess (DOB REDACTED) to conceal his weapon and the he told him, and Burgess told him that he can legally carry it this way and to get away from him. Vanaman told Burgess again that it was illegal to carry his firearm exposed like that and he was making people uncomfortable. Vanaman told him that if he did not conceal it then he was going to call the police, and Burgess told him to do what he had to do. Vanaman then walked outside and called the Wallingford Police Department to report the incident. While Vanaman was outside, Burgess and his girlfriend, who was later identified as Anna Marie FiIipkowska (DOB REDACTED) went outside and sat on a bench directly to the left of the front door to the establishment. Ofc. Gonzalez and Ofc. Fraenza went to the rear of the building to ensure that Burgess did not try to leave the area while Sgt Colavolpe, Ofc. Garcia, and I approached the front of Yale Billiards. We located Burgess sitting on a bench outside the establishment. Burgess had a semi-automatic handgun in a holster on his belt, along with two magazines. All three items were clearly visible, as the subject had his shirt tucked into his waistband. Sgt Colavolpe immediately seized the firearm along with the two fully loaded magazines from Burgess. The gun was identified as a 40 caliber Glock 23 semi-automatic handgun, was fully loaded, and had a round in the chamber. Burgess was then handcuffed by Ofc. Garcia. Burgess then asked, "What am I being arrested for." Sgt Colavolpe then explained that he was being arrested for Disorderly Conduct and then Burgess said, "If you arrest me then you will have big problems because I am allowed to open carry like this, read the paperwork." Burgess had paperwork on the bench next to him. The paperwork was in a pamphlet format titled, "Is That Legal? A guide to understanding your CT gun rights". Burgess had a CT Pistol Permit in his possession. The handgun was verified by the State Police Message Center as being registered and was negative for any hits in NCIC.
I then spoke with the owner of Yale Billiards, Robert Hilton (DOB 6/20/68). Hilton stated that Burgess had been in his establishment for approximately one hour when several people began to come up to him and tell him that there was a man with a gun playing pool making them feel uncomfortable. Hilton then asked Burgess to please conceal his weapon while inside his establishment. Burgess then told him that he was trying to make a point and that it is his right to open carry his gun. Burgess then handed him paperwork regarding carrying firearms in Connecticut. Hilton then explained that it would be best if he left the establishment. Burgess agreed and he and Filipkowska went outside and sat on a bench just to the left of the front door.
Hilton then called the Wallingford Police Department to report the incident because he did not believe that it was legal to have the gun exposed. Burgess told me, as well as Hilton that he was trying to make a point. Burgess undoubtedly made a point and caused inconvenience, annoyance, and alarm to patrons inside Yale Billiards. It estimated that there were approximately twenty to twenty-five patrons inside Yale Billiards while Burgess was there. Burgess was transported to Wallingford Police Headquarters by Ofc. Garcia. He was fingerprinted and processed, UAR #2043924. Burgess was charged with Disorderly Conduct in violation of C.G.S. 53a-182. He was released on a Written Promise to Appear and given a court date of 5/25/10 for 0900 hrs at G.A. 7.
The 40 caliber Glock 23 handgun, three Glock brand 13 round capacity magazines, and 40 Winchester brand 40 caliber hollow point rounds were seized. The items were returned to Burgess upon his release from headquarters and he acknowledged receipt by signing the Return of Compliance section of the Inventory of Property Seized Without a Search Warrant Form.
Case closed by arrest, End of Report.
SUPPLEMENTAL NARRATIVE:
On 5/16/10 when Burgess was released from custody I escorted him outside to the front of the police department to release his firearm, magazines, and bullets to him. When I handed Burgess his property he said, "Thank you for being so polite, I appreciate it, but you know you are going to see me again." He then shook my hand, took possession of his property, and left.
On 5/17/10 at approximately 1715 hrs, I went to Yale Billiards located at 950 Yale Avenue, unit25 in Wallingford to speak with the owner Robert Hilton regarding the incident that occurred in his establishment the previous night. Hilton was attempting to download the video surveillance of the incident that occurred on 5/16/1 O. Hilton agreed to provide me with a voluntary sworn statement regarding the incident.
Summary of Hilton's Written Statement:
Hilton explained that on 5/16/10 at about 6: 10 pm he arrived to work at Yale Billiards and there were approximately 35 patrons inside the establishment. A white male wearing shorts, a navy blue shirt, and his hair in a pony tail came in at about 6:55 pm with a female with curly blond hair. Sarah Dobensky and Dave Zaborowski were inside the establishment and told Hilton that there was a man playing pool with a fully exposed gun on his hip. Hilton explained that Dobensky told him the man with the gun was making her uncomfortable, so he went and asked the man to cover up his gun. The man told him that he would not cover it up because he was trying to make a point. Another male named Greg (last name unknown) expressed his concern to Hilton about the man with the gun just as another patron, Mark Vanaman was telling the man with the gun that what he was doing was illegal. Hilton then asked the man with the gun to leave because he felt uncomfortable, was concerned for the safety of his customers, and thought that it might be illegal. The man with the gun then went outside and sat on bench with the female that he arrived with.
Refer to written statement for further details.
While I was taking the statement from Hilton, Burgess (the man with the gun from 5/16/10) arrived on scene. Hilton went to speak with him and Burgess asked Hilton if it was okay that he was here. Hilton asked him if he was carrying a weapon and he said, "No." Burgess then explained that he wanted to speak to Hilton and that he had a news reporter that wanted to speak to him as well. Hilton explained to Burgess that he was busy, but he could wait if he wanted to. Burgess went outside and waited on the same bench that he sat on 5/16/10.
I then then spoke to another patron of Yale Billiards, Dave Zaborowski who was present the night during the incident. Zaborowski agreed to provide me with a voluntary sworn statement.
Summary of Zaborowski's Statement:
Zaborowski explained that on 5/16/1 0 at about 6:30 pm, he went to Yale Billiards to hang out and play pool. He noticed a white male with shorts, a blue shirt, and a pony tail. He noticed that the male had what appeared to be a fully exposed gun on his hip and two extra clips on his belt. He explained that he never saw anyone carry a weapon like that and wondered why this man needed so much protection. He then told his friend Bobby (Hilton) about the man with the gun and pointed out that he was playing pool right next to a man with a younger kid. Refer to written statement for further details.
On 5/17/1 0 I spoke to Sarah Dobensky over the telephone because she was in New Jersey for the next week. Dobensky is an employee of Yale Billiards and opened the establishment on 5116/10 at approximately 1650 hrs. I spoke with Dobensky and she explained what occurred to me. I then asked Dobensky if she was willing to provide me with a tape recorded statement of her account of what occurred inside Yale Billiards on 511611O. Dobensky agreed and allowed me to record our conversation on 5/17/10. After finishing the statement, Dobensky swore to it.
Summary of Dobensky's Statement:
Dobensky stated that she opened Yale Billiards on 5/16/1 0 at approximately 4:50 P.M. She reported that between 5:30 and 6:30 a bigger white male wearing brown shorts, a blue T-shirt tucked into his shorts, and his hair in a pony tail came in. She then overheard Dave Zaborowski say, "Does that guy have a gun." She looked over and noticed the male with the brown shorts and blue T-shirt had a gun on his hip in an orange colored holster fully exposed. She also noticed that he had two extra clips near his back. She stated that she had never seen this man before, she felt nervous, and uncomfortable especially because there was a man and a young kid playing pool right next to the man with the gun. She asked her boss, Robert Hilton if he would go and speak to the man with the gun because she felt uncomfortable.
She explained that Hilton went over to speak with the man with the gun then began walking away, when another patron, named Mark Vanaman approached the man. Dobensky explained that Vanaman told the man with the gun that he was not allowed to carry a gun like that not concealed and that he was calling the police. She noticed that just after this, that the two tables next to the man with the gun picked up their things and left the establishment suddenly. Hilton then walked back over to the man with the gun and asked him to leave. Shortly after, the man packed up his things and went outside and sat on a bench outside the establishment.
Refer to recorded statement for further details.
On 5/17/1 0 at approximately 2142 hrs Mark Vanaman came to the Wallingford Police Department and agreed to provide me with a voluntary sworn statement regarding an incident that occurred on 5/16/10 at approximately 1900 hrs.
Summary of Vanaman's Statement:
Vanaman explained that on 5/16/10 at 6:00 P.M. he went to Yale Billiards located at 950 Yale Avenue, Wallingford to play in a pool league that he is in. (Statement reads 5/17/1 0, should read 5/16/10.)
Shortly after 7:00 P.M. he noticed about four tables away there was a white male approximately 5'7" to 5'8" tall, approximately 250 pounds with a mustache, goatee, and wearing his hair in a pony tail. He noticed the male was wearing a gun on his right hip in a holster and two extra clips on his belt. He watched the owner Robert Hilton speak to the man with the gun then walk away. He then approached the male and asked him if he was going to cover his gun up. The male asked Vanaman if he was a police officer and he replied that he was a concerned citizen. The male with the gun then said, "Then get the **** away from me." Vanaman told the man that he was going to call the police if e did not cover his weapon. The man with the gun replied, "Good that's what I want you to do." Vanaman explained that he has had a valid Connecticut Pistol Permit for the past 24 years, but was not carrying a firearm on 5/16/10 while he was in the pool hall. He also explained that he has been a Bail Enforcement Agent for the past 8 years and that he has never seen anyone carry their weapon in the open like this man was doing.
Vanaman explained that he became very concerned for the safety of himself and others in the pool hall because in his opinion this was not normal behavior. He also felt threatened by the man's actions because he did not know him or what he was going to do with his weapon. Vanaman went outside, about 75 feet away from the establishment, called the police, and waited there until they arrived.
Refer to written statement for further details.
On 5/18/1 0 at approximately 1645 hrs Detective Houlihan and I went to Yale Billiards to retrieve the surveillance video from 5/16/10. Hilton explained to us that when he went to watch the video that he had downloaded for us, he discovered that it was during the morning hours, 12 hours prior to the time of the incident. Hilton explained that the time on the recorder was off and he had been unaware of it. He then attempted to watch the correct time, but it had already been recorded over. The video was irretrievable.
End of Supplemental Narrative
STATEMENT TAKEN BY: Ofc. D. Flood #175.
I Mark Vanaman do hereby give this statement to Officer Flood of my my own free will and under no threats or promises made to me regarding the following incident which occurred on or about 5/17/10 at approximately 7:05 P.M. I live at the above address with my family and have resided there for the past 12 years. I am employed as a bail bondsman.
On 5/17/10 at approximately 6:00 P.M. I went to Yale Billiards located at 950 Yale Avenue Wallingford to play pool in a league that I am in. At about 7:05 P.M. I noticed about 4 pool tables away from me a white male approximately 5'0 7" to 5’ 08” tall, approximately 250 pounds with a mustache, goatee, and his hair in a pony tail. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. I noticed the male was wearing a gun on his right hip in a holster and two extra clips on his belt. I also observed that Robert Hilton, the owner of Yale Billiards was talking with the man wearing the gun. I waited for Robert to walk away from the man to see if-he was going to cover up his weapon. I saw that he began shooting pool again and noticed that he did not cover up his weapon. I then approached the man and asked him if he was going to cover up his weapon. The male then asked me if I was a police officer. I replied, "No", a concerned citizen. The man then replied, "Then get the **** away from me. "I then said back to him, "Are you going to cover your weapon or not." He then said, “No I am not going to cover my weapon." I told him if he was not going to cover his weapon then I was going to call the police. The many replied, "Good that's what I want you to do.
I Mark Vanaman have had a valid Connecticut Pistol Permit for the past 24 years, but was not carrying a firearm this night 5/16/1O. I have been a Bail Enforcement Agent with the State of Connecticut for the last 8 years. In all of my experiences I have never seen anyone carry their weapon out in the open like this man was doing. I became very concerned for the safety of myself and the other people in the pool hall because in my opinion this was not normal behavior. I felt threatened by this man's actions because I did not know him or what he was going to do with his weapon. I then walked outside into the parking lot approximately 75 feet away from the establishment and called the Wallingford Police to report the incident. The Wallingford Police arrived a short time later and I met them in the parking lot. When they arrived I lifted my shirt up and turned around in a circle to show the police that. I was not carrying a weapon.