Arrest Made After Loaded Gun Magazine Found Outside School: North Haven Police

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A North Haven man was arrested over the weekend in connection to a pair of incidents that recently occurred at Clintonville Elementary School, including the discovery of a loaded gun magazine outside of the school and a vandalism incident, according to police. Joseph Cummins, 31, of Wenzel Farm Road, was arrested on a warrant following an investigation into separately reported crimes between last Sunday morning (Sept. 17) and Tuesday evening at or near the Clintonville Elementary School, police said.

Police say the series of events began at about 8 a.m. on Sept. 17 when police responded to the school for a report of vandalism. A Clintonville Elementary School employee reported someone had used a plastic flowerpot to crack a glass panel in the front door to the school. Police said the school security alarm didn’t activate because the glass was only slightly cracked. The investigating officer requested access to the school video surveillance, but it wasn’t immediately available. (To sign up for North Haven breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

About 30 minutes later, an Old Forge Road resident called police reporting an unfamiliar vehicle was parked on the grass area next to his house. Police said the investigation revealed the person who was operating the vehicle struck a mailbox, which caused minor damage to the front bumper of the vehicle, and then drove onto the lawn of the complainant and left the area on foot. The investigating officer made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Cummins, and issued him a misdemeanor summons for evading responsibility and failure to drive right, according to police.

The officer who was investigating the vandalism complaint returned to Clintonville Elementary School to view the surveillance footage. Upon viewing the suspect who threw the plastic planter at the glass door, the investigating officer immediately recognized him to be Cummins, police said. The investigating officer was preparing an arrest warrant for criminal mischief and trespassing.

At about 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 19), while checking unrelated damage to a rear door at Clintonville School, the principal observed a metallic object with what appeared to be a bullet at the top of the object, according to police. The principal immediately contacted the police and the school resource officer.

“The object, that was determined to be a loaded magazine, was secured and packaged for forensic analysis,” police said in a press release. “The entire area was secured and searched for anything that may pose a danger to students, including a gun. The area where the magazine was located was on the opposite side of the school from where the damaged glass was found.”

Detectives and officers responded to investigate the found magazine on school property. Due to the accident and vandalism complaint, two days prior, Cummins was identified as a suspect regarding the loaded magazine being left on school grounds, according to police. He was contacted and he cooperated with police and Cummins was determined to be the owner of the gun magazine and he had left it there on Sunday morning, police said.

“Police have extensive video footage of Cummins on school grounds wearing only a T-shirt and underwear staggering as he walked,” police said. “At no time is he observed with a handgun. Cummins has been cooperating with investigators, and has no ties to the school. Although he was not in possession of the handgun while on school property, detectives have taken possession of the gun for safekeeping.”

Cummins was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and possession of a high capacity magazine. He was held on a $7,500 bond.

“We would like to thank the school employees for great cooperation during this investigation, and the students and parents of the Clintonville Elementary School for their patience while North Haven officers conducted a thorough investigation and obtained an expedited arrest warrant for Cummins,” police said.

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