Man barricaded in home appears in court

Faces multiple charges after firing over 10 rounds from handgun

A Plainville man faced a judge this week to answer to multiple misdemeanor charges after firing off more than 10 rounds from a handgun less than 100 feet from what police described as a densely populated area of town earlier this month then barricading himself in his home, according to police.

Philip Theriault, 80, allegedly became upset and shot one of his guns several times at the TV and entertainment system on Sept. 1 at about 7:25 p.m., with at least one round exiting his Broad Street home about 87 feet away from a “very heavily trafficked area with a high density of vehicular and pedestrian traffic,” Plainville police wrote in the arrest warrant affidavit.

Police described Theriault in the warrant as having been “highly intoxicated,” as he needed help standing, slurred his speech and was “unable to complete literate sentences.”

No injuries were reported. Theriault was taken into custody by the Central Region Emergency Response Team (ERT) after SWAT members used a drone to look through a window to the home to determine he was no longer armed. He was taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain before being charged with illegal discharge of a firearm, illegally carrying a firearm under the influence, first-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

Theriault, who is free on a $10,000 bond, did not enter a plea to the charges during a hearing in New Britain Superior Court on Wednesday. He was granted a continuance until Nov. 16.

According to the affidavit, Theriault’s wife called police upon hearing several gunshots come from the living room of the home while she was preparing food in the kitchen. She immediately left the home and contacted authorities, telling them her husband had been drinking heavily and had access to many more firearms in the home, including long guns, the affidavit said.

ERT members established a perimeter around the home and made entry inside once they determined Theriault no longer had a gun on him, the affidavit said. Investigators said they found more than 10 spent shell casings in the living room and multiple bullet holes in the TV and surrounding area.

One shell casing was found outside the home. Police said at least one bullet exited Theriault’s home and appeared to head toward an unoccupied residence not far from a densely populated area of Broad Street, the affidavit said.

“The entrance holes located were very sporadic and were consistent with a person recklessly and unlawfully discharging a firearm with no due regard to the safety of innocent people/structures located in the neighborhood,” police wrote.

Plainville police said they intended to apply for a risk warrant to seize any firearms and ammunition from the home.