OMG PD: Unusual Police News in Connecticut

Sometimes, when it comes to parenting, it's all about the teaching moments.

The gutting of a deer in the parking lot of an apartment complex near a Wesleyan University arts center resulted in charges this week for a Berlin man who, according to the police report, wanted to show his sons how to field strip a deer

Lawrence Massey, 37, was arrested, police say, after downtown Middletown residents were shocked to see him employ his hunting knife to methodically "field strip" a deer.

It is unclear if the deer was a buck or doe.

Police were called to the back lot of the 594 Main Street Apartments Monday, Oct. 24, at 3:21 p.m. near the Green Street Arts Center, where several mothers and their young children were walking around. The report says the arriving officer was "overcome by a very strong smell emanating from the carcass" upon leaving his patrol car.

Massey, the police report says, told officers he found the carcass on the side of Route 9 southbound, loaded it into his minivan, and brought it home to show his sons the classic hunting technique of "how to field strip a deer after it had been killed."

According to the arrest report, Massey's two sons live at the rowhouse-style apartment complex with their mother.

Police found Massey holding a folding knife in his right hand with both arms covered in blood beyond his elbows. The report says Massey had put down plastic tarps in the parking lot before tending to the carcass.

Without being asked, the report said, Massey cleaned up the mess by loading it into the rear of his minivan to take it home to Berlin. Several citizens, who wished to remain anonymous, the arrest report details, "found this behavior shocking and frightening and not an appropriate area."

Massey was charged with disorderly conduct and given a Friday, Nov. 11 court date.

About this column: This information is provided by city and state police by press release or culled directly from arrest reports. The accused are innocent until proven guilty.