Montville ― A town police officer’s handgun went off in the lobby of police headquarters Monday in an incident police have described as a “spontaneous discharge.”

The incident occurred around 9:01 a.m. during the arrest of Zachary Barbarossa, 22, of 201 Yantic St., Apt. B, Norwich, who entered the lobby and attempted to take medications directly from a drug drop box, Police Chief Wilfred Blanchette said.

Area police departments have placed the boxes in their lobbies so residents can safely dispose of unused prescription drugs.

Barbarossa attempted several times to take prescription pill bottles out of the drop box before entering the restroom, according to a police report. When officers made contact with Barbarossa, he admitted to trying to take the bottles, the report said.

When officers attempted to place Barbarossa into custody, he resisted and a struggle ensued, Blanchette said. Video footage obtained by The Day shows the officer’s gun discharging while he is picking Barbarossa up by his feet and taking him into custody.

He was then processed and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He was released on a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 10.

“Video footage from inside of the lobby as well as body-worn camera footage clearly shows the weapon discharge for no apparent reason,” Blanchette said.

The bullet fired into the wall, bouncing back in the direction of nine officers who had gathered around Barbarossa, who appear to be startled at the sound of the gun going off. There were no injuries, Blanchette said.

The 9mm handgun, a Sig Sauer model P320, was holstered on the officer’s hip at the time it was fired. Blanchette declined to identify the officer whose gun fired.

Police released video surveillance of the incident which contained no audio.

“Every officer in the department has this same weapon,” Lt. Dave Radford, who was in the lobby at the time of the incident, said Wednesday.

Every town opts to use their own make and model of firearm, Radford said. It is unclear at this time exactly when the department began using the P320s, but they have been standard issue since before Montville became an independent police department on July 1, Radford said.

An investigation by The Trace and Washington Post in April found that more than 100 people allege their P320 pistols discharged when they did not pull the trigger. At least 80 people were wounded in the shootings, which date to 2016.

The department maintains that it was not aware of any issues with the handgun prior to Monday’s incident, and before they started issuing them to their officers, Radford said.

Currently, the department is in the process of purchasing a different make and model to issue to their officers, Radford said.

Police contacted the New London State’s Attorney Office and the state Office of the Inspector General after the incident.

The Inspector General’s office said Wednesday it no longer has an open investigation of the discharge, because it is not under its statutory purview.

Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Carney said Wednesday his office is aware of the the incident and it is “being looked into.”

Barbarossa could not be reached for comment.

d.drainville@theday.com