EAST LONGMEADOW — A local man was arrested late Saturday night after allegedly threatening a neighbor with a firearm during a dispute over their dogs.
East Longmeadow police officers were dispatched to Lee Street at 10:31 p.m. following reports of a resident being menaced with a gun.
Sergeants Michael Sousa, Michael Ingalls, and Officers Matt Lecuyer and Jonathan Gaines responded to the scene.
Sgt. Sousa encountered a suspect, later identified as Philip Pelchat, 48, in the driveway of 43 Lee Street, holding a pistol.
Despite commands to drop the weapon, Pelchat re-entered the residence, emerging shortly thereafter without the firearm and was subsequently detained by the officers.
The complainant informed officers Lecuyer and Gaines that after his dog had wandered into Pelchat’s yard and started playing with Pelchat’s dog, he went to retrieve his pet.
It was then that Pelchat allegedly emerged with a handgun and threatened to shoot both the caller and his dog.
Investigations led to the discovery of multiple unsecured firearms in Pelchat’s home, including one that matched the description of the weapon seen in his possession earlier.
Pelchat faces charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, threat to commit a crime (murder), and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Pelchat is scheduled for arraignment in Palmer District Court this morning.
The other resident of the home, who held a valid firearms license, was not charged.
However, all firearms were seized for safekeeping, and additional charges regarding their storage may be forthcoming.
