Bethel -- A Bethel man faces a slew of charges for allegedly pointing a loaded gun with a laser sight at a Vermont State Police trooper, who fired two shots in response.

John P. Connelly, 26, was sent to Vermont State Hospital yesterday for a psychological evaluation after he pleaded not guilty to four charges in Windsor District Court.

Trooper Stacey Corliss, who fired at Connelly on Sunday night, and Troopers Paul Feeney and Randy Brouillard have all been placed on leave pending an investigation of the incident, according to Lt. William Harkness, commander of the state police barracks in Royalton.

In an interview, Harkness praised the troopers' actions. “It is a nice job,” Harkness said. “If nobody was hurt, and people that have issues can go to jail … this is a good day.”

Connelly, who never fired his gun, appeared to be extremely intoxicated during the incident, which occurred outside his Bethel apartment, according to a police affidavit. His mother, Vickie Connelly, told investigators her son suffered from a mental illness, but had not been formally diagnosed.

The Vermont Attorney General's Office has been assigned to investigate, Windsor County State's Attorney Robert Sand said.

Harkness declined to say whether Corliss intentionally avoided shooting Connelly or whether she simply missed, saying the investigation would turn up more details.

“We are taught to eliminate the threat and the threat was eliminated,” Harnkess said. “It's free flowing and moving fast. You've got the gunman coming down the stairs at a fast rate, not telling anybody he’s coming, (and) the troopers have to react.”

According to court documents, Corliss was within several feet of Connelly when she fired. Corliss has been with the state police since January 2007, Harkness said

Harkness said troopers have been called to deal with Connelly both at his apartment on River Road and at other locations in the past, but he did not give details.

Court documents give the following account of Sunday's incident:

Around 8 p.m., Connelly's sister-in-law, Michele Connelly, called police after she heard a gunshot inside Connelly's apartment, which was adjacent. Earlier in the day, Connelly had pointed a “Tech 9” handgun at his brother, Charles Connelly, apparently mistaking him for another man. Connelly was screaming and pounding on the door separating the families' apartments shortly before she heard the shot, Michele Connelly said.

Moments later, police arrived.

Feeney knocked on the door and identified himself as a state trooper. Connelly began yelling, and asked Feeney to come to his apartment alone, without a vest. Brouillard evacuated nearby apartments, while Feeney and Corliss remained on a porch, asking Connelly to come out unarmed.

Connelly then came charging down the stairs to the poorly lit porch.

Feeney took cover behind a refrigerator and Corliss began backing up from Connelly, while he shone a red laser light sight at her. Corliss “felt like she was looking directly into the light, as if the gun was pointed right at her,” according to a police affidavit.

As Corliss retreated from the porch into the driveway, she saw a gun in Connelly's hand.

From the driveway, Corliss fired two shots from her .40 caliber handgun through the window of the enclosed porch. Connelly was not hit, but he immediately fell to the ground and was handcuffed.

Feeney had drawn his weapon but did not fire.

Police report finding a “Tech Nine,” a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, with a laser sight that Connelly allegedly had been holding, and a .38 caliber revolver in a holster on Connelly's belt. Both guns were loaded.

After being taken into custody, Connelly reportedly kicked out a rear window in Corliss' cruiser.

Feeney's cruiser camera recorded the shooting, but did not have audio. Corliss's cruiser recorded the audio, but the camera was not pointed at the house.

The Associated Press requested a copy of the video. Vermont State Police Sgt. Tara Thomas said it could not be released because it is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Connelly faces four misdemeanors for the incident, including reckless endangerment and simple assault on a police office. He was already facing a charge of disorderly conduct for an alleged altercation at Shenanigans in White River Junction in October.

Public defender Brian Marsicovetere entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. Marsicovetere did not object to Windsor County State's Attorney Robert Sand's request to send Connelly to the state hospital for evaluation.

Three unidentified women who sat behind Connelly during his arraignment declined to comment outside the courtroom.

In an interview yesterday, Michele Connelly said that her brother-in-law had frequent mood swings and sometimes caused trouble, but she declined to elaborate.

“I don't know what triggered it,” said Michele Connelly, who said she is 25 and three months pregnant. “Some days he's OK, and then other days, he's … I don’t know. It depends on his moods.”

He moved into the apartment three months ago and was unemployed, said Michele Connelly, who said she stayed in her apartment and did not witness the shooting incident.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Mark Davis can be reached at mcdavis@vnews.com or (603) 727-3304.