Waterford – Police charged a local man last week with first-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias after they say he yelled racial slurs at his neighbors last month.

Robert Dudley, 57, of 30 Ridgewood Ave. was also charged Aug. 10 with disorderly conduct, second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a child after police obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was released on a promise to appear in New London Superior Court Oct. 15.

In the arrest warrant affidavit, Officer Adam Lapowski wrote that he was dispatched to Dudley's home for a possible hostage situation around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Lapowski soon learned that the potential hostage was Dudley’s father.

As he responded, police received a phone call from the downstairs neighbor who reported Dudley was banging on the air conditioner and holding his father hostage, according to the affidavit.

The state help hotline, identified as “211” in the affidavit, also contacted the dispatch center to say Dudley’s father called “saying his son was going to kill someone.” He told 211 he needed help because his son suffers from bipolar disorder and threatened to get a gun.

When police arrived, they placed Dudley in handcuffs. The affidavit states Dudley was “extremely paranoid”  as he complained about his neighbors, who he said were “messing with his laundry.” Dudley also told police about his medication. His father told police he suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia.

Dudley’s father told police he was trying to convince his son that no one had touched his laundry. Dudley’s father said his son never hit him, but that he at one point pretended to.

The affidavit states Dudley was transported by ambulance to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for a psychological evaluation due to his "paranoia, inability to think rationally, threats toward his elderly father and lack of medication compliance." 

In addition to the fight with his father, Dudley is accused of calling his neighbor, referred to as Witness #1, and their children the n-word multiple times. The affidavit states that Dudley admitted to police “he yelled racial slurs to Witness #1’s African-American children and girlfriend.”

Witness #1 said he was walking back from the beach with his girlfriend, referred to as Victim #2, who is Black, along with their 9-year-old son and her 4-year-old daughter from a different relationship, who are both Black.

As they came closer to the house, they said they heard Dudley shout “little n-words” out the window.  

Witness #1 said Dudley repeatedly called his family n-words and said to “get those n-words out of here.” Victim #2 became upset and left with her daughter. Witness #1 said he went inside his apartment with his son, and his son asked him what the n-word meant.

The affidavit states Victim #2 backed up Witness #1’s account. Both Witness #1 and Victim #2 said Dudley did not make specific threats, but that he continually called their family the racial slur.

Lapowski wrote that he met Dudley at the hospital at about 8 that night.

“I advised Dudley that he was going to be arrested for the domestic violence incident involving his father, and also for yelling the racial slurs at his neighbors,” the affidavit read. “Dudley scoffed at me with a sarcastic laugh and a wry smile.”

Lapowski said Dudley refused to sign his notice of rights. He told Dudley he planned to issue him misdemeanor summons for the charges and release him on promises to appear in court. Otherwise, he would apply for an arrest warrant, which can have a court-set bond attached.

“Dudley vehemently refused the first option and said that I could talk to his attorney,” the affidavit reads. “I was therefore unable to complete the arrest process with Misdemeanor Summons" due to Dudley’s lack of cooperation.