Police: Fairfield Cop's Gun Went Off During Arrest

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A Fairfield police officer’s pistol fired accidentally during a struggle with a burglary suspect late Tuesday night, police said. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Leonard Morello, 58, was charged with burglary, larceny and trespassing by Fairfield Police.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of the Fairfield Police*

by Greg Canuel

01/16/2013 2:00 p.m.

An Old Post Road resident reported seeing a man leaving his garage at about 11:15 p.m. When police arrived they saw Leonard Morello, 58, coming down the driveway on a stolen bicycle, police said.

Morello then went back up the resident’s driveway and into the garage, ignoring officer’s commands to stop, according to the police report.

He then struggled with police as they tried to arrest him, causing the officer’s weapon to discharge, police say. The bullet pierced the ground and did not hit anyone, according to police reports.

Officers also found a credit card holder on the man with an identification card for a resident of a different Old Post Road home, police say. The card’s owner told police it was stolen from an unlocked car, according to the arrest report.

Morello was charged with third-degree burglary, a felony, and sixth-degree larceny, criminal trespassing, interfering with police and refusing to be fingerprinted, all misdemeanors. He was held in lieu of a $100,000 bond and is due in court on Jan. 18.

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