Police said a 67-year-old Ansonia man allegedly called state Rep. Linda Gentile’s office, referenced to the attempted assassination of Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and warned “the same thing will happen here” if a gun bill passed.
John Matika, of Edgehill Avenue, was charged Thursday with second-degree harassment by state Capitol police in Hartford.
Ansonia police searched Matika’s house and confiscated three assault rifles, an Uzi and 15 other guns, according to information released Friday by Ansonia police spokesman Lt. Andrew Cota.
The guns are legally owned, police said, but will be kept as the harassment charge works its way through the court.
Matika made the calls to Gentile’s office on March 24 and March 25, according to police.
Gentile issued a statement Friday saying Matika threatened her.
“I have always been respectful of free speech, an individual’s rights, and the Second Amendment of the Constitution, but this incident crossed the line,” Gentile said. “This individual made a direct threat against me and made specific reference to the attempted murder of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the tragedy that occurred in Tucson Arizona.”
She went on to say:
“Threats and acts of violence directed toward public servants shake the very foundation of public and community service and weaken the very principles of democracy, as well as undermine the public’s welfare and safety. A threat like that can not be taken lightly. I am thankful that the threats made against me were not acted upon and nobody was hurt.”
When reached at his house Friday, Matika said his words to Gentile’s office were misunderstood. He said he’s not a threat to anyone. He’s a responsible gun collector, he said.
“I didn’t mean any harm. This is ridiculous.”
Matika described himself as a sickly man with a pacemaker, diabetes and several other health problems.
He said he gets dizzy just standing up — and that he fell several times trying to clean up his house after the police raid Thursday.
“My house is trashed like hell. They took everything apart,” Matika said.
Matika said he never brought up the Arizona shooting with Gentile’s office.
He said he simply wanted to state his opposition to a proposed law that would ban ammo clips holding more than 10 rounds.
Matika said he also made his opinion known to state Sen. Joseph Crisco.
He said whoever took the message in Gentile’s office misunderstood what he was saying. Matika said he’s looking for a lawyer.
He’s worried about traveling to Hartford for his court date because he doesn’t like traveling on highways.
Ron Tarini, a neighbor, said Matika couldn’t have meant any harm.
“I don’t think he would have done anything like that,” Tarini said. “I know he’s not going to go up to Hartford to do any damage.”
Ansonia police stopped Matika’s vehicle on Jackson Street Thursday and took him into custody based on a warrant signed by a Hartford judge.
Matika was handed over to the Capitol police. They charged him with second-degree harassment and freed him after he posted a $1,000 bond.
He’s due in Superior Court in Hartford April 11.
