Cops: Southold parolee arrested on gun charges after eluding police
A parolee who eluded police for nearly two weeks after allegedly discharging a shotgun in Southold was arrested Tuesday night on a felony charge, Southold Town police said.
Michael Bradford, 42, of Southold faces two misdemeanor weapons charges in addition to third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, police said.
The arrest stems from an incident the morning of July 20, when a female occupant of a residence on Jacobs Lane called Mr. Bradford’s parole officer to report an incident involving a shotgun. Southold police responded to the home, but Mr. Bradford had fled the scene. Police recovered a 12-gauge shotgun at the house, according to a press release. Mr. Bradford fired the shotgun into a closet wall, damaging the wall and items in the closet, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in Southold Town Justice Court.
Since that date, Southold detectives have been working with officers from the New York State Division of Parole to locate Mr. Bradford. Police received a tip that Mr. Bradford had returned to the home Tuesday evening. Southold police and parole officers arrested Mr. Bradford without incident there shortly before 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bradford pleaded not guilty to charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and prohibited use of a weapon before Judge Brian Hughes in Southold Town Justice Court. He was ordered held without bail.
In addition to the charges stemming from the Southold incident, there is also a parole warrant for Mr. Bradford, police said.
Mr. Bradford previously served nearly two years in prison from November 2006 to August 2008 following a grand larceny and attempted burglary conviction, according to state prison records. He is currently on parole for a March 2010 conviction on attempted burglary and assault charges. He served more than five years in an upstate prison before his release last July, records show.
Photo: Michael Bradford. (Credit: Southold Town Police Department)
