Naugatuck Man Pulled Out A Shotgun During Road Rage Dispute: PD

NAUGATUCK, CT — A 32-year-old Naugatuck man was arrested on charges of threatening, disorderly conduct and related violations Saturday afternoon after he pulled out a shotgun during what Naugatuck police said was a road rage dispute on Olive Street. No injuries were reported.

In addition to threatening and disorderly conduct, Joseph Samaha, of Olive Street, also was charged with interfering with an officer and tampering with evidence in connection with the 2:15 p.m. incident.

Also arrested was Naugatuck resident Patrick Occhino, 38, of Barn Finch Court, who was charged with disorderly conduct and threatening.

How the incident played out is not entirely clear, but police said that after Occhino's friend, Steven Hayden, 31, got into a road rage dispute with Sean Sears, 21, Occhino went and got a hammer, which he began swinging during the threat.

"Upon seeing another person carrying a hammer [Samaha] entered his residence and grabbed a shotgun and brought it outside and 'racked' it," police said. "Prior to police arrival [Samaha] hid the shotgun in an outdoor shed. During initial questioning [Samaha] lied and showed police a revolver style bb gun stating this was the weapon he brandished."

Hayden and Sears were issued infractions for creating a public disturbance.

Samaha was released after posting bond on bail of $5,000, and Occhino was released after posting bond on bail of $1,500. Both are scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on June 23.