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CLINTON —On Tuesday, July 5, at 1:53 p.m., Officers Kyle Grady and Christopher Cornelius of the Clinton Police Department was dispatched to a residence on Pleasant Street following a report from a woman that her husband, whom she no longer resides with, is at her home “causing a disturbance.”
According to Officer Grady’s Narrative for the incident, the man, later identified as Andrew Valchuisio, a 33-year-old electrician who resides in Leister, was armed with a machete and gun.
“She also stated that he has a ‘big knife on him,’ and she described it as ‘huge, huge, huge,’” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative for the incident. “She then advised the dispatcher that Andrew went back to his truck and put the machete away. Throughout the call, Andrew can be heard in the background yelling and screaming as she told him repeatedly to leave.”
Officer Grady said that dispatch also received a call from a “distressed” neighbor who witnessed the incident.
“Clinton Dispatch also received a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor [name redated], who lives across the street. [The neighbor] was breathing extremely heavy and sounded to be very distressed,” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative. “He stated that there was an argument at [number redacted] Pleasant Street and there is a man with a gun, and that he ‘put it in the trunk.’ He stated that he did not know the male party, but explained that he was ‘kicking in the door,’ and pacing back and forth. [The neighbor] went on to say that now the male is standing by his, ‘blue Carolla looking thing,’ and that he has a ‘shotgun in the trunk.’ James then stated that the male party was now walking back to the residence with a crow bar.”
When Officer Grady and Cornelius arrived on the scene, they could hear a male and female arguing from inside the residence.
According to Officer Grady’s Narrative, as he made his way to the front door of the residence, which was open, Valchuisio came outside.
Officer Grady immediately pat frisked Valchuisio for weapons.
In the front waistband of Valchuisio’s pants, Officer Grady said he found two small pocket knives, which “were held for our safety.” No other weapons were on Valchuisio at the time of the pat frisk.
Officer Grady then began speaking with Valchuisio, while Officer Cornelius spoke with his estranged wife.
While the officers were speaking with the separated couple, Sergeants Brendon O’Malley, Edward Jeffrey and Officer Christopher Willoughby arrived on the scene to assist.
“I asked Andrew to step away from the residence to speak with me,” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative. “He was very erratic and breathing heavy, stating he was just there to get the rest of his belongings. He stated that he has proof that [his wife] texted him to get his stuff.”
According to Officer Grady, when asked, Valchuisio said that he was still legally married to his wife, but that he no longer lives at the residence with her, even though he is on the lease.
“I continued to question Andrew about what took place, but it was extremely difficulty because he continued yelling and talking over me,” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative. “I then asked Andrew to move even further away from the residence to talk privately, where he finally calmed down.”
According to Officer Grady, Valchuisio said that he “simply knocked on the door and that [his wife] let him in.”
Valchuisio added that his wife “is the one that always causes a scene and ends up calling the police to get him in trouble” and that is what transpired today.
“I asked Andrew about the report of a machete and/or gun being involved. He stated that he had the machete on him because that is what he was going to use to break down his belongings, and that he does have a pellet gun in the trunk of his car but that it was never taken out,” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative. “Andrew kept repeating that he pays for the house and that he didn’t do anything wrong, but also confirmed that he hasn’t stayed there in several months.”
Officer Grady then went into the residence to speak with Valchuisio’s wife. As he walked through the doorway, he said he observed “large scuff marks and dents on the front door around knee height with the markings of what looked like a shoe.”
Valchuisio’s wife told police those marks were from her husband, who kicked the door in.
According to Officer Grady’s Narrative, Valchuisio’s wife said she was sleeping on her couch until she woke up to the sound of someone banging on the front door. When she asked who was there, Valchuisio demanded to be let in.
“She unlocked and opened the door, and Andrew stated, “I’ll f$ck sh*t up.’ At that moment, she also noticed that he was holding a large machete that he ‘aggressively removed from the case,’” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative. Later adding, “She quickly moved out of the doorway as he entered. She became emotional while speaking with me, stating she wasn’t sure what he was going to do to her. That was when she called 9-1-1, and he immediately went to his vehicle and put the machete away.”
Officer Grady then asked Valchuisio where the machete was. Valchuisio said he put it back in his vehicle. After getting Valchuisio’s consent to search, Officer Grady found the machete in Valchuisio’s trunk. A .22 caliber pellet gun was there as well.
Officer Grady then placed Valchuisio under arrest, double locking him in handcuffs and placing him in the back of his cruiser.
“I immediately read him his Miranda rights from a card I carry on my person,” wrote Officer Grady in his Narrative. “Andrew stated that he understood his rights, and began pleading that he did nothing wrong and that he would never hurt [his wife], he just wanted to get his stuff.”
Valchuisio was transported to the Clinton Police Station for booking. He was charged with Attempt to Commit a Crime (Breaking & Entering), Destruction of Property (Front Door), Domestic Assault, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Disorderly Conduct and Disturbing the Peace.
According to Officer Grady, this isn’t the first time Valchuisio’s wife called 9-1-1 on her estranged husband.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from early July, that’s because I had to file a FOIA request to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.
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