Man files appeal for seizure of firearms

During the search for missing IU student Lauren Spierer, Robert Redington’s collection of approximately 50 guns was seized when he was found watching a local Bloomington bar in August 2012.

Now, the Indiana Court of Appeals must decide whether or not to give him back his guns after hearing his argument on Tuesday.

Redington told police in 2012 that he was in Bloomington that night to help search for Spierer. After questioning him for hours, police said they did not believe Redington was involved in Spierer’s disappearance.

Police found Redington on the third floor of a parking garage watching Kilroy’s Sports Bar through a rangefinder with a loaded shotgun in the trunk of his car as well as two loaded semi-automatic handguns in his pockets.

After police obtained a warrant to search Redington’s Indianapolis home, they found an additional 48 weapons. Police seized these weapons, but Redington was not arrested because he had permits for them.

A judge ruled that police could keep the weapons under the Laird Law, which allows the seizure of weapons from people who are believed to have a mental illness.

Redington argued that police do not have adequate evidence to be allowed to keep
the firearms and that his personality disorder is not the same as a mental illness.

Although the Indiana Court of Appeals has heard his case, there is no clear indication of when it will make their decision regarding the return of his firearms.

— Samantha Felix