threats probe

Man at center of threats probe
Sheriff: Caccioppo may have threatened co-workers at base
By DAVID MACAULAY Staff Writer Daily Advance
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Pasquotank authorities have charged a civilian contractor at the U.S. Coast Guard base on weapon charges while they continue to probe allegations he intended to carry out a shooting at the base.Dennis Caccioppo, 36, of 917 Horseshoe Road, Elizabeth City, was arrested Friday and charged with possession of a firearm while being a felon. He was released after posting a $100,000 secured bond.Pasquotank Sheriff Randy Cartwright said Monday that authorities recovered 13 firearms, including three assault-type rifles, as well as large quantities of ammunition during a search of Caccioppo's house last week.Cartwright said his department is investigating allegations that Caccioppo, who works for Lear Siegler Service at the Aircraft Repair and Supply Center, made threats to use the weapons at his workplace."We're investigating claims that threats were made about shooting and different types of threats," he said.Cartwright said it was his understanding that Caccioppo had been suspended from his job at the base.That could not be confirmed, however, because a spokesman for Lear Siegler Service did not return phone calls Tuesday.Cartwright said his office was contacted by Lear Siegler Service, who expressed concerns about Caccioppo, and by a social worker, who had "some concern" for the welfare of a child in Caccioppo's home.Caccioppo's previous criminal record included convictions for grand larceny and breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny. Because he is a convicted felon, he is not allowed to have firearms in his possession.Based on information that he did have weapons in his possession, sheriff's officials secured a search warrant for his house on Horseshoe Road Friday evening. During that search, deputies recovered 13 weapons from a bedroom, Cartwright said.The weapons includeda Russian-made AK47 semi automatic rifle, a 7.62x39 SKS rifle, a high-powered 7mm rifle, two 357-caliber stainless steel revolvers, a Colt King Cobra 357 stainless steel revolver, a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun and a pistol grip shotgun."There were several magazines for those handguns ... and several boxes of ammunition for the rifles," Cartwright said.Pasquotank Magistrate Dianne Wells set Caccioppo's secured bond at $100,000, and he was confined at Albemarle District Jail. He was released, however, after his bail was posted by a bail bonding company.A spokeswoman for the Pasquotank Clerk of Court's office said Caccioppo made a first appearance in District Court Monday. She was unable to say how much of the bond Caccioppo had posted but the minimum required to make bail on a $100,000 bond is 15 percent, or $15,000.Cartwright said he was surprised when he learned Caccioppo had been released."That's quite a substantial bond," he said.But Cartwright doesn't believe Caccioppo will have access to more weapons."We have his weapons," he said. "That's not to say he doesn't have weapons we don't know about, but we have searched his only home and his vehicle."Caccioppo's next appearance in Pasquotank District Court has been scheduled for June 11.Sponsored Links

Man at center of threats probe

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