Officer accused of pulling gun at haunted house

By BEN NUCKOLS, Associated Press Writer

Published 10/27/09

ESSEX, Md. (AP) — A Baltimore city police officer delivered the fright of a lifetime to a haunted house employee, pulling a gun on the chain-saw-wielding man at the end of his act, authorities said Monday.

Sgt. Eric Janik, 37, was charged with assault and reckless endangerment for pointing his service handgun at the worker, who was dressed as Leatherface, the killer from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Baltimore County police said.

The employee, Mike Morrison, followed Janik and several other people up a staircase Sunday night at the end of the haunted house tour in a bid to get "one last scream" out of them, police said.

When the group exited into a parking lot, Janik pulled his gun and pointed it at Morrison from less than 10 feet away, according to police and Morrison, who said he dropped the chain saw, put his hands up and backed away. The saw had no chain.

Only then did Janik identify himself as a police officer, said Morrison, who retreated into the building.

"I started shaking pretty bad," he told The Associated Press.

Another employee of the House of Screams called police.

According to charging documents, Janik smelled of alcohol and told police two different stories about what he did with the gun. First, he denied drawing the weapon, but later he said he pointed it at the ground.

Morrison and two other witnesses told police that Janik pointed the gun at Morrison's chest.

Janik had no listed number and a voice mail for his attorney, Shaun Owens, was not immediately returned.

A security guard had been following Janik's group, which included his 9-year-old daughter, through the haunted house because Janik appeared to be drunk when he arrived, House of Screams owner Tony Sapanero said.

Morrison said Janik's daughter appeared to be disturbed by his act, in which he pretends to cut one woman in half and disembowel another with the chain saw.

Janik was suspended with pay after police commanders learned of what happened and could be without pay after a hearing Tuesday morning, city police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

City police officers are required to carry their service weapons while off duty within city limits and can carry them at their own discretion outside the city, Guglielmi said.

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Rick - 2009-10-27 11:17:38

Yes, everyone should be allowed to have their due process and be considered innocent until proven guilty. I think it's just that we are responding to the details of the story as they are presented to us. If it turns out he didn't pull his gun as stated and had reason, nobody would be calling for him to be fired. Anyways, yes, I too think 9 is too young for a haunted house of this nature but the parents should be able to make that call.

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Matt B. - Deale, MD - Karma: Good

Stanley - 2009-10-27 11:07:51

Your right, this is one case where the officer should be fired. And why they require them to carry a gun while off duty is beyond me, they have every right to go out and get drunk if they want (as long as they follow all the laws), but to have a loaded gun with them is irresponsible, and its required by the city??

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Matt B. - Deale, MD - Karma: Good

Due Process - 2009-10-27 11:04:44

If the guy did the act that he is accused of. Then, let him suffer the consequences. But, lets allow him his due process. Facts in the media do not always tell the entire truth or story. Think back to the western days. How many innocent guys were hanged by vigilantly groups angered and wanting a quick kill?

On another note, isn't 9 too young for one of these realistic haunted houses? No wonder she was disturbed by what she saw. I would think PG-13 for sure.

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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent

fire him - 2009-10-27 10:59:27

too many times cops break more rules than the average citizen...this is a fact.... this guy pulled a gun on someone..... what if it was you....you pulled the gun....fire this cop now !!!!!!!!

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stanley d. - mayo, md - Karma: Neutral

paradox? - 2009-10-27 10:42:28

So, if Baltimore "requires" that their officers carry their service weapons while off duty within city limits. Is there also a requirement that those officers remain sober within city limits? Seems logical.

In any regard, I hope the city does what is right here and fires this officer outright before he does something even dumber and opens the city up to a lawsuit.

Too many good cops go unnoticed when you have nitwits like this on the force.

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B K. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent