Man Tries To Deflate Police Car’s Tire At Walmart: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man is accused of attempting to deflate a police car’s tire while the officer was inside Walmart investigating a shoplifting incident. Officer Gabriel Garcia responded to Walmart at about 5 p.m. on July 6 on the report of shoplifting, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

Smith said while Garcia was meeting with a loss prevention officer inside the store, a concerned citizen reported that a man removed a tire valve cap from the marked police vehicle. The man then attempted to remove air from the tire.

Moments later, officers located and arrested the man, identified as Ryan Kiekel, who was taken to police headquarters, according to Smith.

Kiekel, 35, of Mix Avenue in Hamden, was arrested and charged with tampering with a motor vehicle. He was detained on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on July 19.