Killingworth Man, 46, No Bail On Guilford Home Invasion: Court, PD

GUILFORD, CT — Guilford Police Chief Butch Hyatt told Patch that the while his department is committed to helping as much as it can in domestic violence cases, by offering services, support and followup, some get far worse before they get better.

In the case of a home invasion last week, with multiple violent felony charges leveled against a Killingworth man, Hyatt said that, "Unfortunately, what is sad and a problem we see, is sometimes, things start to escalate." In the case against Daniel Samperi, 46, the victim is hospitalized as a result of injures in a home invasion, a domestic violence case.

"We worry for her safety going forward," Hyatt said, adding that police offer help including safety plans and referrals to domestic violence support services.

"We hope it doesn't get any worse," he said. "We try and help people."

Samperi was charged with first-degree home invasion, first-degree criminal trespass, first-degree assault on an elderly/other victim, first-degree criminal attempt at arson, assault on a police officer, violation of a standing protective order, and interfering with an officer/resisting arrest. Six of the charges are felonies. He was initially held on $250,000 bail, but court records Thursday morning show he's now held on no bail.

Samperi was arrested in January and June on charges of assault, disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer, court, and police records show. And on Aug. 2, was charged withfelony violation of a protective order.

Released on bail, on Aug. 20, last Saturday, records show and Hyatt explained, Samperi is alleged to have forced his way into a home, and then attacked the woman. Hyatt said evidence showed he'd also begun setting things in the home on fire. A call was made to 911 and police and firefighters arrived, records show. When Guilford police went to arrest Samperi, he ran, though was caught up with quickly. He then assaulted a cop, Hyatt said. The officer was not injured.

Hyatt, who before going to Guilford as top cop worked with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, knows this terrain well.

Domestic violence cases are at once "sad and frustrating," he said.

"The escalation of violence is the big worry, so offering support services to help (victims) get out are important," he said.

Though in a number of cases, victims will not, or cannot, leave, out of fear.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, "Abusive relationships are extremely complex situations, and it takes a lot of courage to leave."

"Abuse is about power and control. When a survivor leaves their abusive relationship, they threaten the power and control their partner has established over the survivor’s agency, which may cause the partner to retaliate in harmful ways," the agency notes. "As a result, leaving is often the most dangerous period of time for survivors of abuse."