Weapon On School Grounds: BOE Security Guard Charged In Newtown

A Fairfield County Board of Education "unarmed" security guard was charged with allegedly having a firearm in his vehicle.

The weapon was allegedly found in the vehicle on school grounds.
Photo Credit: *Newtown Police Department*

Kathy Reakes

10/19/2023 4:30 p.m.

The incident took place around 8 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 19 at Newtown High School.

Lt. Scott Smith of the Newtown Police said the department was notified by Newtown High School school security staff for the board regarding concerns that a member of the unarmed security team had a firearm inside his vehicle which was parked in the school parking lot.

The Newtown Police Detective Division worked in conjunction with Board of Education security personnel to investigate the matter and located a loaded 9mm Sig Sauer pistol in the passenger compartment of a vehicle belonging to Charles Baldwin.

Baldwin, a 48-year-old Newtown resident, was on campus working as an unarmed security guard at the time of this incident, Smith said.

He was arrested and charged with:

Storing a pistol in an unattended vehicle
Illegal possession of a weapon in a vehicle
Possession of a weapon on school grounds

Baldwin was released on a $ 5,000 bond.

"There was no threat or danger to students or staff of the Newtown Public Schools at any time during this incident," Smith said. "There is no indication that Baldwin ever possessed or intended to possess the firearm inside any of the Newtown Public Schools."

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