Berlin Landlord Charged After Threatening Tenant, Carrying Gun

A 53-year-old Berlin resident and landlord is facing criminal charges after police said he was in possession of a shotgun and threatened to "put a bullet through the head" of the tenant living upstairs from him last week.

The Friday afternoon incident, a heated exchange between the female tenant and High Road resident Fredrick Murphy, led to threats from Murphy and his eventual arrest, according to police reports.

Murphy, of 286 High Road, was taken into custody on charges of second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond and is due in New Britain Superior Court for arraignment later this month.

According to the police report, the tenant called police after the heated exchange in which the tenant reported that he "apparently yelled at her that he didn’t care and that he would put a bullet through her head with his shotgun."

Responding officers were forced to search after Murphy claimed he did not own a gun, but eventually found a 12-guage shotgun. The weapon was taken into custody for safe keeping, police said Tuesday, but no charges were filed as it was determined he had possession of the gun legally.

Despite being afternoon, police said Murphy was in a robe and slippers at the time of the incident. He has been ordered not to have any further contact with the tenant.

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