Man Faces Weapons, Drug Charges After Greenwich Police Seize Assault Rifle, Ammo

Greenwich Police say a man is in police custody after they confiscated an assault rifle, a pistol and 49 high-capacity magazines from his car and home.

The seizures were made April 23 when police responded to a medical call at the suspect's home, according to police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray. The suspect was found in his car on Stonehedge Drive South and "was in possession of guns, ammo and magazines," Gray said.

Edward A. Koller, 34, of 53 Stonehedge Dr. South, was taken to Greenwich Hospital as a result of that medical call. Privacy laws prohibit police from commenting on the nature of that medical call, Gray said. 

"Officers responded to a medical call relating to Mr. Koller. As a result of that contact and previous contacts with him, officers determined he had a weapon in the motor vehicle," Gray said. "He was taken to the hospital. After officers obtained a search warrant, they found other weapons."

Police obtained a search and seizure warrant that day and seized a Bushmaster XM 15 assault rifle and 49 high capacity magazines from his home, as well as anabolic steroids and a small amount of suspected cocaine, Gray said. "They are contraband items in Connecticut," Gray said.

After the seizure, officers applied for an arrest warrant. Koller surrendered at police headquarters at 6:45 a.m. Monday, May 5. He was charged with 49 counts of failure to register high capacity magazines, and one count each of possession of narcotics, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of an assault weapon and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Gray said Koller reportedly had a pistol in his possession even though his state pistol permit was revoked in February 2014 by the Connecticut State Police (CSP). A message seeking comment was left with a (CSP) spokesman Monday afternoon.

Koller was held in lieu of a court-set $250,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear May 12 in state Superior Court in Stamford.