A man faces charges for allegedly storing unsecured firearms in a home with five children that were found as police were investigating after a dog was shot twice in the face.
Christopher Joseph, 48, of Stafford was charged Tuesday with five counts of risk of injury to a minor and a single count of illegal discharge of a firearm, according to Connecticut State Police.
The warrant affidavit supporting the arrest said state police on March 28 were asked to assist a Stafford Animal Control Officer in connection with a dog that had been shot in the face on Collette Road West. The animal was taken to a veterinarian where it was found that it had been shot in the face twice, the warrant affidavit said.
The dog was treated and has since been reunited with its owner, who is a neighbor of Joseph, according to state police.
While investigating, the dog owner said he had cameras around his residence but that they did not record the day the animal was shot, the warrant affidavit said. Two days earlier, however, the man said the cameras captured Joseph entering his yard and firing off a long gun, according to the warrant affidavit. It was not clear what was being shot at.
When confronted by investigators, Joseph said he did not hear any gunshots go off and went on to say his son had been setting off fireworks, the warrant affidavit said.
Investigators reviewed the surveillance footage that was captured and confirmed Joseph entered the neighbor’s yard and fired off what appeared to be a small caliber long gun, according to the warrant affidavit. State police said he appeared to fire the gun toward Stafford Street, which was described as a “relatively populated” area.
According to the warrant affidavit, the homeowner noted that in 2010 he permitted Joseph to shoot any woodchucks that he found near their properties.
State troopers obtained a search warrant for Joseph’s residence, which was carried out on April 4. Investigators said they found multiple firearms hanging on a wall with ammunition nearby in what was described as a pantry or laundry room, the warrant affidavit said. The guns did not appear to have locking mechanisms on them, making them accessible to anyone, according to the warrant affidavit.
State police noted that five children resided in the home between the ages of 5 and 15, the warrant affidavit said. Troopers seized nine long guns, a 12 gauge shotgun and 11 “items of ammunition,” according to the warrant affidavit.
Following his arrest, Joseph was released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Nov. 19.
