Last modified: Saturday, July 5, 2008 1:04 AM EDT
Willie Andrews, left, listens, as his lawyer, Sean Delaney of Lowell speaks for him. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin)

Former Pat can be held

ATTLEBORO - A gun allegedly brandished by an ex-Patriots player at his former fiance may have been loaded with lethal, hollow-point ammunition at the time, according to testimony at a District Court dangerous hearing.

Judge John Canavan ruled Thursday that former defensive back Willie Andrews could be held up to 90 days without bail after allegedly waving an automatic pistol at the woman Monday in the Mansfield apartment occupied by the couple and their 18-month old daughter. The alleged victim, Krystal Myers, 23, has since moved back to Virginia along with the baby.

The Patriots earlier this week released Andrews, a second-year player from Baylor University.

During Thursday's hearing, Assistant District Attorney Paul Machado presented witnesses and a tape recording of Myers' Monday morning 911 call in which she said Andrews had waved an automatic pistol at her, once coming near her temple. Myers also told police that Andrews had threatened her previously.

In an interview, Myers told police she believed the weapon might not have been loaded at the time. However a plastic box found by workers at Andrews' apartment complex was found to contain a .45 caliber Glock automatic, fully loaded with hollow point rounds. The box also contained a second, loaded magazine for the weapon.

Also found were papers showing the gun belonged to a Waco, Texas, resident and former college teammate of Andrews.

Defense lawyer Sean Delaney challenged the efforts to link the gun to Andrews, saying investigators had not asked critical questions of the gun owner to determine whether he had given or loaned the gun to anyone.

Andrews is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a high-capacity firearm. The defendant can appeal Thursday's order in Superior Court.

Sgt. Larry Crossman of the Mansfield Police Department testified concerning events leading up to Andrews' arrest after his ex-fiance allegedly confronted him over a suspected affair with another woman. Police later arrested Andrews and conducted a search for the weapon using police dogs. Employees of Andrews' apartment complex ultimately found the gun near a dumpster later that morning.