Thomas MacMillan File Photo
A pistol-packing moviegoer got his court ticket stamped “dismissed” Monday.
The movie-goer, prominent local attorney Sung-Ho Hwang (at left in above photo), appeared in state Superior Court on Elm Street on charges of breach of peace and interfering stemming from an Aug. 7 incident at the Criterion movie theater downtown. Hwang was arrested there after bringing a loaded .40-caliber Glock pistol to a showing of the latest Batman movie, “The Dark Night Rises.” He had a permit for the pistol. He was charged for allegedly refusing the orders of cops who stormed the theater after hearing reports of an armed man there. Hwang allegedly laughed and used his cell phone as police pointed their guns at him and demanded he show his hands.
Monday morning Assistant State’s Attorney David Strollo moved to have Hwang’s charges nolled. Hwang’s attorney, Hugh Keefe, moved instead to have the charged dismissed. Judge Maureen Keegan granted Keefe’s wish and dismissed the charged.
“I’m delighted for Sung Ho, who’s a fabulous lawyer, well regarded by the bar, as witnessed by the fact that he’s president of the New Haven County Bar Association, and also instrumental in the Korean community in New Haven,” Keefe (at right in above photo) said afterward.
Read about the police’s version of the incident here.