NJ Man’s Vaults Cut Open, Guns and Powder Taken by Police
Russ Chastain 08.12.14
In a sad turn of events, in just one day a man in Saddle Brook, New Jersey became the victim of domestic assault, confiscation (some would say “theft”) of his guns, ammunition, and black powder–and was placed under arrest.
65-year-old Robert Lintner was allegedly stabbed in the neck by his wife, leading to a call to police and her arrest. A report stated that he was treated for his wound and returned home, and police inquired about guns in his home. Lintner told police that he owned guns and kept them in vaults, but declined to cooperate with police taking his guns.
A search warrant was obtained by police, who found five gun safes. Lintner declined to provide combinations to the safes, and police brought in the fire department, which chopped open his safes using the “Jaws of Life.”
In the end, police say they took almost 200 guns and “tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition” from Mr. Lintner’s home. The guns were reportedly dumped into barrels and hauled away; no doubt they will be worse for wear when – if – they are returned to their rightful owner.
What sparked the most excitement was the “approximately 300 pounds” of black powder found in Lintner’s home. New Jersey law limits the amount of black powder kept in a residence to 50 pounds, and even then it’s supposed to be stored in a “type 4 magazine.”
Pursuant to this law, Robert Lintner was charged with “Causing or risking widespread injury or damage.”
After discovering the powder, police evacuated nearby homes.
One of Lintner’s neighbors said, “You’d never know that guy was there. There is never any commotion in that house.”
Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler reportedly stated, “To some degree, I feel bad for Mr. Lintner because he was the victim of a domestic situation and it turned into him being a defendant of possessing an unlawful amount of gun powder. It’s a unique situation.”
Personally, I am troubled by this. I don’t believe the police had any right to pry into his business and they certainly had no right to break into his safes, which seems like invasion of his privacy as well as destruction of his property.
What do you think?
