Man Accused Of Threatening 2 Farmington Churches: Police

FARMINGTON, CT — Area police took a Bristol man in custody Friday in connection with a July 25 threatening incident against two Farmington churches.

Accoding to the Farmington Police Department, Michael Scott Pickering, 41, of Bristol, has been charged with: intimidation based on bigotry or bias; second-degree stalking; second-degree breach of peace; and second-degree harassment.

Farmington police said the Bristol Police Department successfully apprehended Pickering and he was turned over to Farmington and is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.

Farmington police said Pickering is scheduled to appear at Hartford Superior Court on Monday, Aug. 7.

Police said the situation started on July 25, when Farmington police began investigating threats made against staff at St. Mary Church and St. Patrick Church, both located in Farmington.

The FPD said the threats appeared to display an anti-Catholic bias.

That's when officers identified Pickering as the alleged source of the threats, the FPD said.

Based on the investigation, an arrest warrant was sought for him and was issued on Thursday, Aug. 3.

Police said Farmington and Bristol officers attempted to serve the warrant on Pickering at his residence in Bristol during the afternoon Aug. 3.

According to the FPD, the suspect refused to exit his residence and the warrant was not served at that time.

Following the attempted warrant service, information was developed that Pickering was actively barricading himself inside his residence and making additional threats against police via social media.

Farmington police said Bristol officers successfully served Pickering on Friday, Aug. 4.

Bristol Police also hold an active warrant for Pickering in connection with his threatening behavior, according to the FPD.