Hours-Long Police Standoff With Man Who Shot Dog Ends In Arrest: Authorities

NORWALK, CT — A Norwalk man was taken into custody following an hours-long standoff with police after he shot a dog days earlier and locked a person out of a home, according to police.

Officers around 3:30 p.m. Saturday investigated a domestic dispute and were informed by the victim that 52-year-old Jeffrey Vigil was violating a no-contact protective order after he shot a dog Wednesday at a home on Old Saugatuck Road, police said, adding Vigil had changed the locks to the residence and told the victim not to return or contact police.

Officers tried to get Vigil to exit the home, but he refused to communicate with them, according to police, who said crisis negotiators responded to the scene. While negotiations were ongoing, officers obtained arrest and search warrants, according to police, who said they believed there were guns in the home.

“Despite continued negotiation efforts, Vigil repeatedly refused to surrender, yelled at officers, and remained inside the home,” police said. “Due to his actions and the potential presence of firearms, members of the Emergency Services Unit used multiple tactics in an effort to have Vigil safely exit the residence. When those efforts were unsuccessful, Emergency Services Unit members entered the home.”

Vigil was found on the second floor and taken into custody just after midnight Sunday, according to police, who said officers also found a large amount of ammunition.

Vigil is due in court Monday and has warrant charges of two counts of violating a criminal protective order and criminal lockout, as well as new charges of violating a criminal protective order, criminal violation of a restraining order and interfering with an officer, police said.

His warrant bond was $750,000 and his on-scene bond was $250,000, according to police.