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A man accused of threatening to bring a grenade to the home of his estranged wife's boyfriend turned himself in Tuesday, Norwalk Police reported. They said the husband, Lealand Gardella of Stamford, had called his wife more than 20 times Monday night. He was charged with threatening second degree and harassment second degree. Bond was $200,000, which Sgt. James Walsh said was due to the "totality of the circumstances."
The Norwalk woman is in fear of her life, he said. Two shotguns, used for hunting, were confiscated from Gardella. Police said there was no hand grenade.
The couple have been separated for nine months, and the harassment has gotten more aggressive over the last few months, possibly due to drug abuse, Walsh said. The wife said Gardella called her 21 times at about midnight Sunday and sent her texts as well. Police applied for a warrant, which was signed by the prosecutor Tuesday. Gardella turned himself in without incident. Walsh said Gardella admitted calling the victim numerous times and said he had been drinking and had gotten angry.
Also on the police blotter:
? A Tuesday afternoon report of a possible child abduction appears to have been erroneous, though made in good faith, Walsh said. There have been no children reported missing by local schools or parents.
A man contacted police at 3:01 p.m. and said he had been sitting on North Taylor Avenue and had heard a female child scream "Mommy! Mommy!" Then he saw a red pickup truck leave the area at a high rate of speed.
"After a thorough investigation by patrol, the Youth Bureau and the Detective Bureau, it appears that no abduction was committed," Walsh said.
? Two bicycles valued at $500 each were reported stolen from a West Cedar Street residence at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday. The Silver Mongoose bikes had been in a trailer on the property, and the lock had been cut, police said.
? A man fled the West Avenue CVS Tuesday afternoon with deodorants after pushing a female manager into a display, knocking it over. The manager saw him putting the deodorants into a bag and asked him to put them back. He got away before police arrived, but detectives hope to gain information from the store's video cameras.
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