Man Claims God Sent Him To Smash Up House

Published:

Police: West Hartford Man Claims God Sent Him To Smash Up Farmington House

 

Levon T. Sarkisyan

Levon T. Sarkisyan (Courtesy Farmington Police Department / June 23, 2011)

DAVID OWENS

The Hartford Courant

5:03 PM EDT, June 23, 2011

FARMINGTON

 

A West Hartford man with a history of bizarre and threatening behavior was arrested this week in Farmington after he allegedly broke into a house, smashed statues and a marble table with a fireplace poker, then told the homeowners as they arrived home that he'd been sent by God, police said.

Levon T. Sarkisyan, 27, of Eustace Drive, West Hartford, was charged with third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief and was initially held by Farmington police with bail set at $50,000. He was released on a promise to appear in court after his arraignment Monday at Superior Court in Hartford.

Police said a Middle Road resident arrived home Sunday and noticed the front door had been kicked in. Sarkisyan, who identified himself as Leon Sark, then walked out the front door and told the homeowner "a light from above told him to do this," Farmington police Sgt. Stephen Egan said.

Sarkisyan then told the homeowner he'd broken into the house because "God wants me to help the world," Egan said, adding that he then told the homeowner, "I mean you no harm."

The homeowner told Sarkisyan to sit down, then fumbled with a phone trying to call 911, Egan said.

Sarkisyan said, "You see, God will not let you use the phone," Egan said.

As they waited for police, the homeowner asked Sarkisyan how he broke into the home.

Sarkisyan then stood up, "flexed his arm and said, 'You see, super-human strength,' " Egan said.

Officers arrived moments later and took him into custody without incident.

Later, Sarkisyan told officers he'd smoked "a strange strand of herb" that caused him to do what he did, Egan said.

While in the house, Sarkisyan used a fireplace poker to smash statues, including one of a Roman soldier, and a marble table, causing about $10,000 in damage, Egan said. Sarkisyan also rummaged through closets, took a shower, then dressed in the clothing of a deceased former resident, Egan said.

The homeowner did not know Sarkisyan, Egan said.

In 2008, University of Connecticut police arrested Sarkisyan after he allegedly made bizarre threats against members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Sarkisyan is a UConn graduate.

The UConn incidents stemmed from a trip to Miami that Sarkisyan took with two fraternity members and a fourth man.

According to the warrant for Sarkisyan's arrest prepared by UConn police, Sarkisyan treated the trio to an all-expenses-paid trip to South Beach in February 2008. He bought them expensive jewelry, cocaine and the services of a prostitute.

Sarkisyan told the men to "keep quiet" about the trip, court records say, but someone told another Kappa Sigma member about it, who then asked Sarkisyan about it.

That inquiry triggered the alleged threats against people who told Sarkisyan to leave the fraternity house. The threats became increasingly bizarre, police said.

UConn police provided protection for several days to a target of those threats.

The cases were resolved at Superior Court in Rockville with convictions on charges of breach of peace and criminal trespass. Sarkisyan received suspended jail sentences and two years of probation.

Entry #4,912

Comments

Avatar temptustoo -
#1
they turned this man lose on a promise to appear.. what about the 50 thousand dollar bail.. this guy must have connections .. and it isnt from above either

Post a Comment

Please Log In

To use this feature you must be logged into your Lottery Post account.

Not a member yet?

If you don't yet have a Lottery Post account, it's simple and free to create one! Just tap the Register button and after a quick process you'll be part of our lottery community.

Register