'This Is War:' Cops Called 5X To Olympian's Farm Before Shooting

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Police were called to an Olympian's Long Valley horse farm at nearly half a dozen times in the week leading up to a double-attempted murder, according to 911 calls and incident reports.

Between July 31 and Aug. 6, the day before the alleged attempted murder, Washington Township police were called out to Hawthorne Farms on West Mill Road at least five different times. They were also called to the farm on Aug. 8, the day after the shooting. (You can listen to the 911 calls below.)

Michael Barisone, 54, an Olympic dressage rider and the farm's owner, called police at least five times to report harassment ahead of an Aug. 7, 911 calls show. Barisone is accused of shooting a woman twice in the chest, and attempting to shoot her fiance, at his farm following a bitter landlord-tenant dispute. He is currently detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility while the charges are pending.

Lauren Kanarek, the woman he is accused of shooting, also called police to the farm once. (Barisone is also accused of attempting to shoot Kanarek's fiance, Robert Goodwin, but records do not show that Goodwin called police at all.)

The four calls placed by Barisone to 911 share several similarities. In each call, Barisone complains of harassment against him and his family by Kanarek and Goodwin. He described the couple, who were living in Barisone's home on the property, as guests, squatters, not tenants.

On each of the calls, Barisone tells the 911 operators that Kanarak and Goodwin did not have weapons, nor did they threaten him with one. On the three four calls, Barisone said he was not in immediate danger, but on the fourth call he said he "wasn't sure" if there was immediate danger or not.

Barisone's defense attorney, Jeffrey Simms, said Kanarek also called Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) to the farm, alleging that Barisone was abusing his fiance's children. Simms has said the call was a harassment tactic, and denied that Barisone abused the children.

"While there may have been a civil disagreement between Lauren and Mr. Barisone, such things never justify the use of a gun," Kanarek family lawyer David said in a statement.

July 31

The first call was placed by Barisone on July 31 around 11 p.m. Barisone told 911 operators that Kanarek and Goodwin were at the barn past 9 p.m., and that the couple had scared Barisone and his family out of their home on the property.

"They're scum bags, I want them warned, they have chased us out of our home and I want this dealt with tonight," Barisone said, later adding, "These people have been living here and they.re causing us hell."

"This is a war, and it's going to be dealt with now," Barisone said.

August 1

Police were called back to the home the next night, around 7 p.m. Barisone told 911 operators he'd asked Kanarek to leave the barn, and she refused. Barisone said Kanarek and Goodwin were "invading my property," and described them as swatters in the home.

"This is a situation going from bad to worse," Barisone said.

Morning of August 3

The third call was placed on the advice of a lawyer Barisone had retained, and there was no immediate issue, Barisone told 911 operators the morning of Aug. 3.

The most pressing issue on the third call was a Facebook post shared by Kanarek, which Barisone said stated , "My split personalities are going to take over, and I am not in control of what we do when they are threatened." He also accused Kanarek and Goodwin of "bugging" his conversations at his temporary home in the stables.

Night of August 3

Kanarek called police to the home just once before the shooting. According to an incident report released by the Washington Township Police Department, Kanarek called that night to report a suspicious black car driving to an area of the property.

Police went to the home, and told Kanarek the car belonged to someone else living in another area of the farm.

It appears that Kanarek called the non-emergency police department line. No 911 call was released for this call for service.

August 4

Police went to the farm one last time before the shooting on Aug. 4. Barisone called police to say he had asked Kanarek and Goodwin to sign a contract but the pair refused.

This was the only call where Barisone said he wasn't sure if he was in danger or not.

"I'm taking my life back," Barisone told 911 dispatchers.

August 7

The afternoon of August 7, Barisone is accused of shooting Kanarek twice in the chest and attempting to shoot Goodwin. Three people called 911: a nearby resident, Kanarek's father, and Kanarek herself.

"Michael Barisone shot me," Kanarek reportedly said in her 911 call, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office did not release the audio her 911 call, citing the ongoing investigation.

August 8

The day after Barisone is accused of shooting Kanarek and attempting to shoot Goodwin, another stable employee called Washington police for help.

Ruth Cox, the acting barn manager, called police to say that Goodwin was trying to get into the barn, but he was acting "menacing," an incident report said.

When police arrived, Goodwin said he was at the barn because his horses needed hay and special wraps.

Cox and Goodwin exchanged numbers and agreed to text to set up times Goodwin could tend to the horses, a police report showed. No 911 call was released for this call for service.

Read More of Patch's Coverage:

• Olympian Charged With Attempted Murder In Long Valley: MCPO
• New Details In Alleged Attempted Murder By Long Valley Olympian
• Long Valley Olympian Was Harassed Before Alleged Shooting: Lawyer
• Olympian Barred From Competition After Allegedly Shooting Trainee