overzealous or justified

[RACER X]

http://www.courant.com/community/new...,6143955.story

Man With Gun In New Haven Theater Is Immigration Lawyer
Sung-Ho Hwang Is President-Elect Of The New Haven County Bar Association

NEW HAVEN—

The man arrested after police said he brought a loaded handgun into a theater a few weeks after the mass shooting at a Colorado theater is an immigration lawyer who is president-elect of the New Haven County Bar Association.

Sung-Ho Hwang also is a member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, according to that group's website.

The New Haven County Bar Assocation had no comment; he is listed as president-elect on its website. Hwang could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
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Hwang, 46, of New Haven, was charged with breach of peace and interfering with police after the incident Tuesday night.

Attorney Hugh Keefe told The Associated Press that he's representing Hwang. He called the arrest baseless and blamed New Haven Chief Dean M. Esserman for ordering it.

Police rushed to the Criterion - Bow Tie Cinemas at 86 Temple St. shortly after 10 p.m. after receiving calls about an armed man in the theater, which was showing the latest Batman movie — the same one that was being show at the time of the Colorado massacre.

The first arriving officers searched the theater, where patrons said they'd seen a man with a gun in a holster. They first searched a theater where "The Watch" was being shown, then found him in a neighboring theater where the Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises," had not yet begun.

Officers went into the theater, ordered the approximately 12 patrons to put their hands up, and had them file out of the theater. They were then patted down as they passed.

When officers located the armed man, who they later identified as Hwang, they drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up. He did not comply with their orders and remained in his seat while using his cell phone, police said.

Officers then took him into custody "by force," police said. They removed a loaded handgun from Hwang's waistband at the small of his back, police said. He was handcuffed and removed from the theater.

Police said Hwang has a valid state permit to carry a pistol. Police said he never touched the gun or presented a threat to patrons, but noted that people were on alert because of the mass shooting at a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Colorado.

Esserman, who responded to the scene, met with the nearly 20 officers and two sergeants who responded to the call and praised them for their fast response. Several Yale University police officers also responded.

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http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...olice-say?lite

Police are trying to figure out why a man took a bag of weapons with him to an Ohio movie theater showing the latest Batman movie.

Authorities confirmed that 37-year-old Scott A. Smith walked into the Regal Cinemas movie theater in Westlake, Ohio, on Saturday night with several weapons, according to Cleveland's NBC-affiliate WKYC. An off-duty police officer and the theater manager became suspicious after noticing that Smith was carrying a beige satchel, WKYC reported.

Smith had bought a ticket for the 10 p.m. showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at a Regal Cinemas about 16 miles west of Cleveland. He was the first and only person inside the movie theater and he sat in the center seat of the back row -- a position with "tactical advantage," police said, according to WKYC.

He was arrested by off-duty Westlake police officer Jeremiah Bullins, after it was discovered that Smith's bag contained a fully-loaded 9 mm pistol, two full magazines and three knives, according to WKYC. Bullins also found a fourth knife under Smith's clothing.

Smith drove a Toyota truck to the theater, which police impounded, finding a tactical vest inside, WKYC reported.

Saturday's incident in Ohio comes just two weeks after the July 20 shooting rampage at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that left 12 dead and 58 wounded. The Aurora shooting happened at a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."

"After Colorado anything is possible," Westlake police Lt. Ray Arcuri, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "When you consider the movie he was going to and what happened in Colorado, you have to wonder what would make him want to bring the weapons into that particular film. Our police officer did a great job spotting him."

The Associated Press reported that Smith's defense attorney, Matthew Bruce, said his client brought the weapons for protection and out of fear following the Colorado shooting, and Smith didn't mean to cause any harm or panic.

Except for traffic violations, Smith does not have a criminal record and police said he never made any threats. In Smith's home in the nearby town of North Ridgeville, Westlake police found about eight rifles and handguns, as well as gas masks and bulletproof vests, according to The Plain Dealer.

Smith is married with a young daughter. His wife told police she knew about this gun room but was not aware of his motives, WKYC reported.

Smith faces a minimum of four counts of carrying concealed weapons and more charges could come. He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

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of course both incidents happened at Batman showings