The informant “provided the information based on a fear for the safety of others,’’ a police investigator wrote in an affidavit.
At his arraignment yesterday in New London Superior Court, the sailor from Dalton, Ga., wore shackles around his hands and feet and did not speak. The judge ordered him held on $200,000 bail.
Waterford police Sergeant Joseph DePasquale said Caldwell was “very disgruntled and antimilitary’’ and there was concern about potential violence, but there was no evidence that he planned to harm anyone.
DePasquale said that authorities who searched Caldwell’s home in Waterford found the assault rifle along with a gas mask, a .50-caliber handgun, two .45-caliber handguns, and high-capacity ammunition clips for the AK-47 that could hold up to 50 rounds apiece.
“It makes you wonder,’’ said DePasquale. “Finding stuff like that obviously increased our concern. Our concern is whatever’s motivating him to stockpile stuff like this.’’
Caldwell was arrested Monday at the submarine base, where he was assigned to the submarine USS Springfield. He was detained by Navy officials before his arrest.
The NCIS, which began its investigation July 31, told police that a man who used to live with Caldwell in Groton said Caldwell had recently been kicked out after obtaining the rifle and because of his antigovernment and antimilitary rhetoric. He later moved to the residence in Waterford, where the landlord told investigators that Caldwell had an AK-47, according to court documents.
In an Aug. 17 interview at the NCIS office at the sub base, Caldwell said that he bought the rifle in April in Providence and tried to arrange for it to be shipped to Connecticut. The gun store told him the rifle was illegal in Connecticut, and he had it shipped instead to Georgia. He then drove to Georgia to pick up the weapon and bring it back, the documents said. Caldwell consented to a search of his residence that turned up the rifle.
He was charged with possession of an assault weapon and sale or transport of a prohibited assault weapon.
