Fairfield Man Charged With Shooting Woodchuck, Threatening Tenant

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - A 77-year-old Fairfield landlord was arrested on several charges after he shot and killed a woodchuck on his Black Rock Turnpike property Wednesday and then threatened his tenant, police said.

Fairfield Police charged William Hanford, 77, with discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, interfering with an officer, breach of peace, two counts of second-degree threatening and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.
Photo Credit: *Fairfield Police Department*

Fairfield police arrived at the home of William Hanford, 77, on Wednesday afternoon after reports of a dog killed with a gun, only to find it was a woodchuck.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

by Alissa Smith

06/26/2014 12:30 p.m.

Fairfield resident William Hanford, 77, was released from police custody Wednesday after posting $25,000 bond.

After killing the woodchuck on his Black Rock Turnpike property Wednesday afternoon, startling his tenant, Hanford then threatened her and her cat with a rifle, police said.

The issue, police said, stemmed from an ongoing eviction process that Hanford had begun.

When officers arrived at the home near the Merritt Parkway ramp Wednesday afternoon, they reported that Hanford would not immediately put his 22-caliber rifle down, police said. But he eventually turned himself into the custody of the officers, police said.

Police charged Hanford with discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, interfering with an officer, breach of peace, two counts of second-degree threatening and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

The court also issued a protective order keeping Hanford from the house for two days as the tenants move from the apartment, police said.

Read more about the incident Wednesday here on the Daily Voice.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.