A deputy U.S. Marshal accused of ramming a police cruiser after a violent confrontation with his girlfriend was ordered to surrender his weapons and undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Rafael Garcia, 41, of New Jersey, was arraigned Wednesday in front of Judge Karen Sequino in Superior Court in Derby.
Shelton police received several 911 calls at about 11 a.m. Tuesday reporting that a man was chasing a woman outside the Heather Ridge condos.
People were “screaming for help,” according to the initial radio dispatch.
When police arrived, Garcia had already allegedly struck his girlfriend with his car. She suffered a gash to her leg that required 20 stitches to close. He rammed a police car while trying to flee, police said.
Police later said at least one round had been fired from a gun during the incident.
Garcia suffers from depression, according to a conversation between his lawyer, Ed Gavin and the judge.
Police had initially set Garcia’s bond at $1 million.
Gavin argued that the amount was “tremendously excessive.”
He said that the discharge of the firearm was not intentional, but part of a struggle that took place during the incident.
Gavin said the victim indicated that she grabbed Garcia’s weapon and fired it into the floor during the argument, then threw a second gun away from them.
Judge Sequino, however, said that Garcia’s out-of-state residency — coupled with the allegation that he threatened to kill the woman and himself — necessitated a high bond.
She set his bond at $500,000.
“This court takes depression and risk of violence very seriously,” Judge Sequino said.
Garcia has been with the U.S. Marshals for 17 years. He is a single-father with three children, his lawyer said.
Three of Garcia’s family members were in court. They cried throughout his appearance.
“I love you papa,” one of the women said as he was being escorted out of court.
Garcia has been charged with first-degree assault, first-degree criminal attempt to commit assault and criminal attempt to commit assault on a police officer.
Garcia’s next court date is Aug. 24. The case will likely get transferred to Milford, where more serious criminal matters are heard.
