City man who brandished gun at phone store remains held on no bail

Harrison Thorp 7:12 a.m.


City man who brandished gun at phone store remains held on no bail

Michael P. Hanscom (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester man arrested on Wednesday after he reportedly brandished a handgun at employees at a Rochester T-Mobile won't get his gun back until his case is adjudicated, and the court provides documentation to police that it can be returned to its owner, a Rochester Police spokesman said on Friday.
Michael P. Hanscom, 43, of 34 Summer St., was taken into custody a little after 1 p.m. after officers were called to the South Main Street T-Mobile for a report of a male subject who was inside the store and threatening employees by waving a firearm around.
During his arrest he is alleged to have threatened to shoot an officer who responded to the scene, resulting in a misdemeanor criminal threatening charge.
Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said that offense was not charged as a felony, because Hanscom did not have the gun in his possession when he made the threat.
Hansom was also charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and contempt, all misdemeanors. He was held on preventative detention, transported to the Strafford County Jail and arraigned on Thursday at the 7th Circuit Rochester District Court. He remains held on no bail at Strafford County House of Correction, a jail spokesman said today.
When officers located Hanscom at the entrance to the store, he was not displaying or threatening anyone although police did find a firearm in his possession, Pinkham said.
"During his interaction with officers, the male did threaten to shoot one of them," Pinkham said on Thursday. "It was also learned that while inside the store, he was making rude comments to the employees and kept manipulating the firearm in a nonthreatening manner, however his comments and other behaviors, combined with the firearm, made them feel unsafe."
Pinkham said as of now Hanscom has not been flagged as being prohibited from purchasing a firearm though he may depending on the outcome of the case.
"There are ways for people to be flagged, however he has not been," Pinkham said. "In this case he did not actually point the gun at anyone or threaten anyone with the gun. He also has not been convicted yet. So all of those factors have to be considered."
At the time of his arrest, Hanscom was out on bail from a prior offense.