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Man Charged With Being Drunk With Gun At Firing Range Near Ridgefield

DANBURY, Conn. -- A city man was charged with being under the influence of alcohol while carrying firearms at a gun range in Danbury, according to state police.

Police charged Patrick Straub with carrying a gun at a Danbury firing range while under the influence of alcohol.

Police charged Patrick Straub with carrying a gun at a Danbury firing range while under the influence of alcohol.

Photo Credit: Contributed

About 2 p.m. Sunday, Connecticut State Police at the Troop A barracks responded to a call from a manager at the Wooster Mountain Gun Range, a state-operated facility at 74 Sugar Hollow Road/Route 7 near the Ridgefield border, reporting that there was an intoxicated person there. 

The management reported that the person had firearms, state police said.

Upon arrival, a state trooper saw over 30 people, including children, at the range, according to state police.

A witness told the trooper that the man was having trouble balancing and smelled like alcoholic, state police said.

The person was identified by his Connecticut driver's license as Patrick Straub, 38, of 151 Shelter Road Road, Danbury, according to state police.

Upon speaking to Straub, the trooper immediately smelled an alcoholic beverage emanating from him and saw that Straub's eyes were glassy and that he was having trouble balancing and walking, state police said.

The officer seized Straub's firearms and ammunition, then escorted him to the front parking lot, away from the public and the gunfire of the range, according to state police.

The trooper conducted a field sobriety test, which Straub failed, and he was placed under arrest, state police said.

Straub was charged with illegal carrying of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol and breach of peace, according to state police. 

Straub was released on $5,000 bond, and he is due in court Friday, Jan. 15, state police said.

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