Home » Local News » Currently Reading:

East Hampton Police arrest man who put shotgun to wife’s head

December 28, 2010 Local News 4 Comments

Michael Leiner of East Hampton is accused of holding a shotgun to his wife's head in a dispute over paychecks. Photo courtesy of the East Hampton Police Dept.

East Hampton Police arrested a man they say put a gun to his wife’s head in order to force her to sign over her paychecks to him.

Police say that on Dec. 20, Michael Leiner, 47, with the address of 64 Depot Hill Road East Hampton, CT held a loaded shotgun to his wife’s head in order to force her to change payroll deposit information from her account to his.

The woman was able to escape and report the incident to police.

Responding officers were able to talk Leiner out of the home and take him into custody.

Police say a fully-loaded shotgun was found in the home and recovered as evidence.

Leiner was charged with robbery 1st degree, criminal use of a firearm, reckless endangerment 1st degree, threatening 2nd degree and disorderly conduct.

The charges stem from an investigation by Officer Matthew Hanlon and Officer Hardie Burgin.

Leiner was held on a $250,000 bond. He was to be arraigned at Superior Court in Middletown on Dec. 21, 2010.

Posted Dec. 28, 2010

Comment on this Article:

Business

POed in EH

Stress is one thing–this guy is a nut. Look at the rest of the police log– how many nuts can our piddly little town produce? In light of recent events and key personalities it seems somehow systemic.
Poe2

Did you ever stop to think that the wife could be just as nuts? There are 2 sides to every story POed…
POed in EH

Oh, ya, a real good reason to commit an unreasonable act….”she’s just as nuts as me”or “she deserved it”.
klinwood

Imagine hearing for the first time that you put a loaded shotgun to your wife’s head just prior to being placed in front of a judge. It would explain his disoriented state of mind. The EH police were contacted by a man claiming to be a co-worker that was on the phone during some of the incident. They both lied to police by not disclosing that they where having an affair. Can you say motive? Also, the incompetent EH police couldn’t figure out that the gun was left in the locked position WITHOUT a shell in the chamber for safety reasons. Could it be they were trying to solidify their case to distract from the chief of police being under investigation for racism and other issues?

She told me she NEVER said he put a gun to her head and did not SEE the gun. During the argument, she said she HEARD what sounded like a shotgun being racked while he was in another room. Turns out it was his bass guitar being slammed into a stand that has a locking mechanism which sounds exactly like a shotgun racking. I’ve heard it and can confess to it.

This man has never been accused of any crime or domestic violence incident in his life, including the 24 years they have been together. He is an honest Christian man that married a very troubled woman with mental health issues. Amazingly, he has since forgiven her and are working on putting their life back together including getting her the help she needs. The system has failed this man.