A California man is accused of traveling across the country to Norwalk with a machete to attack a family member.
Patrick Norris, 26, was arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on Monday. Norwalk police arrested the former city resident on charges of criminal attempt at first-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct following
a short standoff Saturday.
“He indicated to police on two separate occasions during the incident that at one point he intended to stab his father, on another that he was going to crack him over the skull,” Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Moran told the court.
Police responded to a home on Scribner Avenue around 7:30 a.m. after a call from the victim about an unwanted guest outside.
“When police arrived, they found the man in the backyard as they were told, but he had a long machete with him—a 3-foot machete,” Sgt. Ryan Evarts told News 12. “When officers spoke with him, he said that he'd been waiting there for six hours.”
Evarts said Norris was initially uncooperative, but officers got through to him after about 40 minutes of negotiations.
“They were able to convince him to put the weapon down, and thankfully, it came to a good resolution in this situation,” Evarts stated.
At Norris' court appearance, Judge Robert Golger issued a protective order barring Norris from contact with his father.
“Of grave concern to the state, Your Honor, is that Mr. Norris allegedly has a history of being violent with family members,” Moran said as she requested a bond of $250,000.
Public defender Ryan Flanaghan pointed out that Norris has no prior record and no money to make any kind of bond.
“While he previously lived in California, that lease has now lapsed. He's now homeless, no means of support. A $1000 bond might as well be a $1million bond,” Flanagan said.
Golger called the proposed violence outlined in the police report, “disturbing” and said mental health issues appear to be behind what happened. He set bond at $250-thousand dollars. If Norris posts that, he'll be on GPS monitoring.
Norris is due back in court on March 13.