Speed Limit Sign Shot Up in Ellington, Man Charged

ELLINGTON, CT — A man was caught with three guns after a drunken escapade in which a speed limit sign was shot up near Crystal Lake on Saturday with more than 30 bullets, state police said.

At about 10:35 p.m. Saturday, state troopers received several 911 calls from residents near Crystal Lake in Ellington reporting numerous gun shots, according to a police report.

Troopers and Ellington Police responded to the area and began checking the area of Aborn Road and Sandy Beach Road, according to a report.

As troopers circled the area, they observed a man emerge from the wood line carrying a long gun, and they gave him several verbal commands to drop the weapon and ordered him to the ground, a report indicates.

Troopers and officers were then able to place the man in handcuffs, according to a report. He was then identified as Alexander Czaja, 21, of Sandy Beach Road, Ellington.

Czaja was also armed with two additional handguns and more than 25 additional rounds of .40 ammunition, according to a report.

He had been drinking alcohol and was walking home from a friend's house, state police said. At some point during his walk home, he fired more than 11 rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun, 17 rounds from a Smith and Wesson .40 cal, and six rounds from a Smith and Wesson .357 mag revolver at a speed limit sign near Minor Hill Road.

He fired the rounds from a road shoulder and several pieces of ammunition and shrapnel from the sign were found in the roadway, according to a report.

Czaja was transported to Troop C, where he was released on a $10,000 bond and is due to appear at Rockville Superior Court on Nov. 27, according to a report.

Czaja's Connecticut pistol permit was seized as well as the firearms, state police said.

Czaja was charged with the unlawful discharge of firearms, illegally carrying firearms under Influence of drugs or alcohol, third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree reckless endangerment, according to a report.

Photo: The guns seized from Alexander Czaja. Photo Credit: State Police.