MERIDEN, Conn. — The Meriden Police Department received multiple 911 calls around 5 p.m. on Wednesday regarding a man on Main Street walking with a rifle, police said in a release.
According to police, callers stated he was wearing a backpack, a bulletproof vest, had a rifle slung over his shoulder and was carrying a beer. Police learned later that the weapon was actually a crossbow.
The man told people in a parking lot that they should “kill themselves” and that he “was waiting for police,” the release said.
Officers and detectives found the man walking down the middle of Hanover Avenue and stopped traffic in all directions to keep the public safe; the man was given several directives to stop walking and keep his hands visible but did not comply, police said.
Officers identified the man as Tyler Dowd, who they say had several active warrants out for his arrest. After Dowd continued ignoring police and began walking toward a more residential area, police took him down to the ground and into custody, police said.
It was then that the police determined what was perceived as a rifle was really a crossbow with a collapsible stock. Police said the limbs of the crossbow were removed and from a distance that made the crossbow look like a rifle.
Inside of Dowd’s backpack was an Orange Orion Flare gun with a modified 12-guage cartridge, which had been hallowed out and appeared to be re-packed with glass and other debris. According to police, Dowd had been arrested by the Wallingford Police Department with a similar flare gun on May 28.
Dowd, who is the subject of an active protection order prohibiting him from possessing any firearms, was given medical attention on scene and then brought to the Meriden Police Department and charged.
Dowd is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon, violation of a protective order, interfering with a police officer and breach of peace, according to police, who said he is being held on $500,000 bond.
Police said Dowd was facing warrants for second-degree failure to appear with a bond set at $2,500, and for first-degree failure to appear, where his bond was set at $150,000. His bond was set for $25,000 for a third warrant for first-degree failure to appear.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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