Guns Seized From Norwalk Man After Threats: Warrant

NORWALK, CT — Several firearms - including a .44 Magnum, Remington long rifle and a .357 Mag Pug - were seized by Norwalk police this week from the home of a 52-year-old local resident who authorities said made threatening comments to state health officials.

Joseph Sander, of Creeping Hemlock Drive in Norwalk, was not arrested on Tuesday when a total of 10 weapons were seized from his home, according to the firearm search and seizure warrant obtained by Patch. He has a valid gun permit.

The warrant says that in a call to state Department of Health on Sept. 9, Sander expressed anger over a 2012 incident "at Stamford Hospital that resulted in him being banned from the hospital."

During the phone conversation on Monday, Sander is quoted in the warrant as saying "for what they put me through I should have shot up the head of the hospital," the staff was "lucky didn't shoot the place up," and that "they are lucky I am not sick."

He also said in the call that he has access to guns, "and that although they are double locked by his wife, he has an extra set of keys," the warrant states.

Additionally, Sander said he "has overdosed on pills before and has many pills to do it again," according to the warrant.

Norwalk police applied for the warrant under the grounds of "Recent threats or acts of violence by such person toward himself/herself or others," and "A history of the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force by such person against other persons."

According to the warrant, Tuesday's raid was not the first time Sander has had his guns seized. In 2011, Sander was arrested after he "threatened to harm his wife's parents and threatened to shoot the police." His weapons were eventually returned to him.

Of the 10 firearms seized, seven are handguns and three are long rifles, according to the warrant. The Stamford Advocate writes that Norwalk police used a tactical team to execute the search, which led to the temporary closure of Creeping Hemlock Drive and Butternut Lane.

Sander has the right to a hearing concerning the return of his firearms, and one is scheduled for this month. The Norwalk Police Department is seeking to have his gun permit revoked.