By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A city man was free on bail Monday, a day after he allegedly held his wife and daughter at gunpoint, forcing the evacuation of neighboring homes, police said.
An apparently distraught Richard Maslar was seen through the windows of his 11 Davenport Ave. house Sunday night, dragging his wife around the house while brandishing a handgun, police said. His daughter, who was not identified, also was home at the time. No age given
Maslar, 60, surrendered to police after they surrounded the house and moved neighbors to safety. After officers were able to talk with Maslar, he put his gun down, came out of his house and was arrested without further incident, police said.
Neighbors, who were displaced for about 30 minutes, were asked to leave their homes by police because of "some potential danger," said one neighbor who asked not to be named. Davenport Avenue is off Edgefield Avenue.
During Maslar’s arraignment Monday at Superior Court in Milford, his wife argued in an attempt to have him released from custody and to have only partial protective order put in place against him.
She described Maslar as a "loving husband" who had never hit her or their daughter and insisted neither she nor her daughter was ever in danger.
Assistant State’s Attorney John E. Barney, however, argued for a full protective order to keep Maslar from having contact with his wife.
Superior Court Judge John J. Cronan agreed with Barney, and issued a protective order that prohibits Maslar from contact with his wife and requires that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Maslar’s wife told the court her husband was depressed and the whole incident was a cry for help.
She said he never raised the gun and said it remained in a box, but later called it a holster.
"My husband was depressed and mentioned he didn’t want to go on living,""Maslar’s wife said during his arraignment. "I was trying to talk him down.He is a loving husband and this incident. ... I think it was a call for help or attention," she said.
Maslar is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, unlawful restraint and disorderly conduct. If convicted on all counts, he could face more than six years in prison.
The state bail commissioner assigned to the case said the allegations against Maslar are "extremely serious and there could have been far more serious charges filed."
Cronan said, "Given the serious nature of this case, some bond money is necessary."
Maslar’s is free on $15,000 bail, which his wife posted. His next court date is Jan. 25.