Judge Says Man Found With More than 200 Guns, Flamethrower Can Be Released
A judge on Monday ruled a Rhode Island man who was arrested when authorities found and seized over 200 guns and a flamethrower from his home can be released safely on bond.
After responding to reports of gunfire on February 24, police arrested 37-year-old Ronald Andruchuk, after finding the large stash of weapons inside his home where his wife and three children also live, the Associated Press reported.
Though Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ruled Andruchuk does not pose a threat now that his weapons are taken away, the prosecution argued that the man had the means to acquire more weapons, posing a danger to his community.
However, McConnell wrote in his decision that the prosecution did not meet the “burden of showing any clear and convincing evidence that there is no combination of conditions that would reasonably assure the safety of the community.”
Due to Andruchuk’s alleged drug use, one of the charges he faces is possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, the AP added. The specific conditions of his release will be decided Tuesday at a detention hearing in Providence.
The Boston Globe reported that the man’s neighbors were in their backyard with relatives and children when he started firing his gun, and later found rounds on their property after some bullets hit their trees. Police who responded to the call of gunfire had to duck for cover until they could get Andruchuk to stop.
He was arrested the next day following another 911 call saying he was shooting again. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing tactical gear and was holding four handguns and a combat knife. He also appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
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