SOUTH BEND — The United States Attorney’s Office announced the arrest today of Ronald J. Wedge pursuant to a federal criminal complaint filed this morning. Wedge, 71, of Bristol, Ind., owns and operates Hole-In-The-Wall Gunworks in Bristol.

On April 21, Wedge sold an Astra .22 caliber pistol to Scott Barnaby at a South Bend gun show. Three days later, Barnaby shot and killed South Bend police officer Nick Polizzotto and shot and wounded officer Michael Norby with this pistol. Barnaby was killed by police.

The investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms traced the pistol to Wedge. The complaint alleges that Wedge failed to properly ID Barnaby and failed to make the necessary computer background checks through the National Instant Check System (NICS) prior to the sale.

On April 23, Wedge initiated a NICS check which came back “delay” — a direction to delay the sale. The sale had already occurred, however, on April 21. Thereafter, a NICS check on April 24 came back “proceed” — a direction that the sale could proceed. Wedge allegedly filled out the required ATF reporting forms and indicated on those forms that he had sold the gun to Barnaby on April 24.

The complaint charges Wedge with making a false statement in violation of 18 USC 1001, with willfully falsifying entries on ATF record keeping forms in violation of 18 USC 922(m) and 924(a)(1)(D), and making a false statement and representation with respect to information required by Federal firearms laws to be kept in the records of a licensed firearms dealer in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 924(a)(1)(A).

A criminal complaint is a procedural device used to charge an individual quickly and obtain an arrest warrant. Under federal law, formal charges must next be presented to a grand jury. The United States Attorney’s Office expects to make a presentation to the grand jury on May 9, 2007.

Wedge appeared today before a United States Magistrate Judge for his initial appearance. Bond was set at $10,000 unsecured.

If convicted on these charges, the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a $750,000 fine, three years supervised release and a $300 assessment.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation at this time and that all persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.