Police arrest man for pulling out ‘rifle’ near President Obama’s motorcade (PICTURED)

On Monday 04-08-13 The Bloomfield Police Department was involved in securing the path of travel for the Presidential motorcade through the Town of Bloomfield. Due to the number of security post required, mutual aid was required from the Hartford, Newington, Farmington, Granby, Canton, Windsor Locks and Simsbury police departments to secure the route. At approximately 1705 hours the Presidential motorcade passed through Bloomfield to the University of Hartford.At approximately 1750 hours, a Simsbury PD Detective, who was monitoring the traffic post at the intersection of Central Avenue and Cottage Grove Road, heard noises from the rear yard of 7 Central Avenue and went to investigate the sounds believing that someone may be hiding in the woods. Upon his approach the officer saw a male, later identified as Joseph Stravinskas DOB 06-27-85, in the rear yard with a rifle aiming at cans propped as targets and ordered Stravinskas to drop the weapon. Stravinskas turned toward the officer dropping his aim but not dropping the weapon resulting in the weapon being pointed in the direction of the officers. Stravinskas ultimately complied with the police orders and was taken into custody. The weapon was seized and determined to be a pellet rifle that closely resembled a deadly weapon. Stravinskas stated he was homeless and was staying at the 7 Central Avenue for a few days and his actions had nothing to do with the presidential motorcadeAt approximately 1820 hours the Presidential motorcade made its egress from the University of Hartford again traveling through the Town of Bloomfield without incident

Joseph Stravinskas, 27, was apparently preparing to shoot at cans in a wooded area off President Obama’s motorcade route when he was arrested.

A man wielding a pellet rifle was arrested off President Obama’s motorcade route in Bloomfield, Connecticut, on Monday.

Joseph Stravinskas, 27, was apparently preparing to target shoot in a wooded area off the road Obama would use to return to Bradley International Airport after giving a speech on gun control.

An initial report erroneously said the man had pulled the weapon as Obama’s motorcade had passed.

Bloomfield Police Captain Stephen Hajdasz told the Daily News that the president was, in fact, still at the University of Hartford when the arrest took place.

President Obama arrives at Bradley Air National Guard Base in Hartford, Connecticut. Obama was in Connecticut to deliver remarks on measures to reduce gun violence at the University of Hartford.

JASON REED/REUTERS

President Obama arrives at Bradley Air National Guard Base in Hartford, Connecticut. Obama was in Connecticut to deliver remarks on measures to reduce gun violence at the University of Hartford.

A police officer posted along the route had heard branches rustling off the road, which had been reopened to traffic after Obama’s motorcade passed through the first time.

Stravinskas, who is homeless, was apparently preparing to shoot at cans when he was approached by police.

A police statement said Stravinskas “turned toward the officer dropping his aim but not dropping the weapon resulting in the weapon being pointed in the direction of the officers.”

President Obama hugs Newtown family members after calling for new gun control laws at the University of Hartford on Monday.  

SUSAN WALSH/ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama hugs Newtown family members after calling for new gun control laws at the University of Hartford on Monday.

“He initially wasn’t compliant,” Hajdasz said.

Stravinskas eventually cooperated, but was arrested and charged with breach of peace in the second degree, threatening in the second degree and interfering with a police officer.

He was held on a $15,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday.

President Obama shakes hands with the husband of slain school psychologist Mary Sherlach before boarding Air Force One as the parents of murdered six-year-old Ben Wheeler stand by.

JOSH REYNOLDS/ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama shakes hands with the husband of slain school psychologist Mary Sherlach before boarding Air Force One as the parents of murdered six-year-old Ben Wheeler stand by.

Secret Service later interviewed the man at the police station, Hajdasz said.

He added that there was no evidence that Stravinskas’ presence in the area had anything to do with the presidential motorcade.

Obama was making his latest call for tighter gun control in the state where 20 children and six educators were gunned down in their classrooms in December.

Obama was joined by relatives of the slain Sandy Hook Elementary School students and teachers at the University of Hartford as he urged Americans to demand that Congress hold a vote on “common-sense” gun control measures.

After his speech, Obama traveled back to Washington on Air Force One with 12 family members of Sandy Hook victims.

The grieving relatives are expected to lobby senators in memory of their loved ones on Tuesday, as the chamber is scheduled to begin debate on gun control legislation.

Read more: NY Daily News

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