EAST BROOKFIELD � A legally blind Hardwick man who allegedly greeted a door-to-door salesman with a handgun last month is due back in court June 26.

Donald Ward, 66, of Main Street in the Gilbertville section of Hardwick, was arraigned April 30 on charges of assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, a firearm restriction violation, malicious destruction of property and two counts of improper storage of a firearm. He was released on personal recognizance and is due back at court for a pretrial hearing in June.

Police, in their report, wrote that as a result of their investigation into the complaint made by the salesman they seized 130 guns, thousands of round of ammunition and 100 pounds of black powder, which is used to fire old-style weapons and to make ammunition.

The guns were unsecured, leaning against walls in several rooms. There were so many weapons that police had to call in a company licensed to secure them as evidence as the case proceeds, though this week they said they have found a properly licensed person who will take custody of the guns, ammunition and black powder.

Officers investigating a report of a suspicious man going door to door on April 26 were told by a solicitor that he had knocked on Mr. Ward's door and was assaulted when Mr. Ward grabbed the identification badge around his neck while pointing a handgun at his wrist, a police report said. The man was soliciting with a locally issued permit for Just Energy, an alternative power company.

In a written statement to police, Mr. Ward denied grabbing the ID badge and instead said that when he asked to see it, "he seemed to have trouble getting it over his hat so I tried to help him." He said he never pointed the gun at the salesman and held it at his side during the encounter.

"I am 66 years old with many health problems, one being very little sight ... I feel very strongly about protecting myself and my property," Mr. Ward wrote.

Police said Mr. Ward did have a license to carry firearms but it was contingent on having another licensed person living in his home with him; no one was living with him the day of the alleged incident. They said Mr. Ward did once operate a gun shop from another building on the Main Street property but it has been closed for some time. They said they were unsure whether the large arsenal was surplus from the store.

Mr. Ward's license to carry was revoked, he was ordered to stay away form the alleged victim and to surrender all firearms in his possession. He was also placed on pretrial probation.

Contact Kim Ring at kim.ring@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimmring