DERBY – A Derby man accused of sneaking into his neighbor’s house and attacking a teenager with a hammer had his case transferred Dec. 19 to Superior Court in Milford, where more serious crimes are heard.
Andrew Fogarty is accused of home invasion and second-degree assault in connection to an incident in the early hours of Dec. 6. Both charges are felonies.
His case has twice appeared on the docket in Superior Court in Derby, the city where the crime took place.
No attorney for Fogarty is listed on court documents, and prosecutors in Derby appeared unsure of who his representation is.
Derby police were called to a reported house fire at 1015 Roosevelt Drive at around 3 a.m. on Dec. 6. Fogarty owns the house and lives with two roommates, including one who was home at the time, police said.
While heading to the scene, officers received information alleging Fogarty snuck into his neighbor’s house at 1017 Roosevelt Drive and hit a teenager with a hammer. Fogarty also owns that house, and the victim was one of his tenants.
Police also said Fogarty had taped metal plates to his body as makeshift body armor, according to a probable cause statement on file at Superior Court in Derby.
Roger Picerno, the father of the minor that was attacked, previously told The Valley Indy that his son was not seriously injured, and that Fogarty suffers from serious mental health issues.
Picerno said his son was able to restrain Fogarty. Picerno then held Fogarty at gunpoint until police arrived, he said.
During the altercation, Picerno said that Fogarty begged to be killed. Picerno said his son was hit three times, but wasn’t seriously injured.
One of Fogarty’s tenants was displaced in the fire. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help him relocate.
Fogarty has not been charged with starting the fire, which is being investigated as suspicious. The state fire marshal, the Derby City fire marshal, and Derby detectives are handling that side of the case.
Fogarty’s bond was set at $500,000 at arraignment on Dec. 6. He remains in custody.
Fogarty’s next court date is Jan. 9 in Superior Court in Milford.
