MERIDEN, Conn. — Meriden's city manager has filed for resignation from his position following a second encounter with police in the past year. Now, the city is searching for a new manager, which could take months.
City council held a special meeting Monday night, where they announced Timothy Coon had filed for resignation. He will be on paid medical leave until Jan. 1, when his resignation is effective.
“Tim is, has been a colleague for many years and has become a friend over the years and we want to make sure that anyone, whether it’s a friend, family or a relative, gets the help that they need, and the same goes for Tim," said Mayor Kevin Scarpati at the meeting Monday night.
Police were called to Coon's apartment complex overnight on Nov. 1 for a welfare check, where a police report claimed, he was found sleeping on the floor of a common hallway. Coon told police he could not find his keys. After spending nearly an hour with him, police found his car keys and cell phone near his car, and eventually picked the lock to get into Coon's Pleasant St. apartment.
The body camera video was released by the city to FOX61 after a FOIA request. It was originally brought to light by Joseph Vollano in his weekly podcast.
Now, Vollano is questioning the entire police response to the Nov. 1 incident.
“That video created more questions than it gave us answers. And unfortunately, those answers need to come from our police department," Vollano said on Tuesday. "The story didn’t become Tim Coon anymore, it became our police department and how they reacted to it, and how they addressed the situation at hand.”
FOX61 reached out to the Meriden Police Department, to which the chief responded, "no comment."
This all comes after Coon was involved in a wrong-way crash back in April, where he was arrested for driving under the influence. Following that incident, the city council agreed to keep Coon on staff, as long as he completed an employee assistance program.
During the city council's meeting on Monday, some people criticized council members for not taking action back in April. Meanwhile, veterans spoke on behalf of Coon, who is retired from the army, asking for the city to support him.
Police Chief Roberto Rosado is currently serving as acting city manager until the council names an interim manager. Council members are expected to make that decision at their next meeting two weeks from now. Coon will remain on paid leave until Jan. 1, for medical reasons.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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