Man Assaulted Elderly Victim, Arrested Again 30 Minutes After Being Released: Wallingford PD

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford man accused of assaulting an elderly person who was known to him was arrested again 30 minutes after being released when police said he violated the conditions of his release.

Michael Barnes, 47, a convicted felon, was arrested Jan. 30 after police said he assaulted the elderly victim and coerced them into providing him a check to cash so he could purchase drugs, and then fled the residence in the victim’s vehicle, according to a news release.

While officers were investigating the incident, police said Barnes returned to the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

Barnes was charged with third-degree assault on an elderly person, breach of peace, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. He was initially held on a $30,000 bond set by the Wallingford Police Department, according to police.

Police said Barnes’s bond was reduced to $7,500 on Jan. 31 by a bail commissioner.

“After posting bond, he was released from the custody of the Wallingford Police Department,” police wrote in the news release. “As a condition of his release, Barnes was ordered to have no contact with the victim and was prohibited from returning to the victim’s residence.

“Approximately 30 minutes after his release, Barnes contacted the victim by telephone and returned to the victim’s residence. Officers responded to the residence and subsequently re-arrested Barnes for violating the conditions of his release.”

His bond was set at $50,000, which police said he was unable to post. Barnes was held and appeared at Connecticut Superior Court in Meriden on Monday.