Round explodes while Ridgefield officer clears gun

Authorities say it’s a one-in-a-million chance, but it happened Thursday morning outside the Ridgefield police station.

While showing a reserve officer his firearm, a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, Lt. Roy Rhine followed protocol and took the steps to clear his weapon of ammunition, Ridgefield Police Chief Carrie Greene said.

As the round was being ejected, the bullet detonated, Rhine said. The reserve officer was nicked in the leg by some shrapnel but not injured.

Rhine, a police officer for 29 years and a firearms instructor for 10 years, said that he could not replicate the situation if he tried.

Greene said an investigation found Rhine was not at fault.

“There wasn’t any negligence on the lieutenant’s part,” she said. “Nothing was ever fired; it was a freak accident.”