MERIDEN — Police arrested two suspects in the seemingly random attack on a couple last month in Stop and Shop.
Thomas Zanone, of Waterbury, and Robert Cote, of Meriden, were charged with assault in the 2nd degree, conspiracy to commit assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit endangerment, and breach of peace. Both men were released on a $50,000 bond and are expected to appear in court on March 16.
Police have a warrant for a third suspect and are expecting that they will turn themselves into police soon.
Police were searching for up to five men who randomly attacked a man and his wife while they were grocery shopping on Feb. 12.
At around 3 p.m., police were called to the Stop & Shop on Broad Street in Meriden.
“It appears as though the victims tried to separate themselves from the suspects while walking to the store and they’re kind of chattering to one another like, ‘Just ignore them. Try to ignore them.’ But the suspects became so persistent and kind of so involved with these two victims it became at that point unavoidable and things escalated so quickly. They never really could have anticipated such a negative outcome,” said Sergeant Darrin McKay with Meriden police.
The men continued to harass the couple and then surrounded them, according to police. One of the suspects threatened to punch the woman and another suspect hit the husband from behind. Police said the victim was punched in the face, knocked unconscious, and had several teeth knocked out.
“The victims did not know any of the suspects and at this time the assault and the harassment certainly appears to have been unprovoked,” said McKay.
All five of the suspects are pictured in various surveillance photos, including the white Ford Fusion they were riding in.
