Armed Man Told People To ‘Kill Themselves’: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — A man was arrested on several charges after police said he was walking in the middle of the street while wearing a backpack and a bulletproof vest, and carrying a crossbow, flare gun, and a beer Wednesday in Meriden.

Police received several 911 calls around 4:55 p.m. reporting a man in the area of 1 Main St. walking with a rifle, according to Sgt. Michael Boothroyd.

Callers told police that the man was wearing a backpack, bulletproof vest, had a rifle slung over his shoulder and was carrying a beer.

The man told people in the parking lot that they should, “kill themselves,” and that he, “was waiting for the police,” according to Boothroyd.

When police arrived, Boothroyd said the man was found to be walking down the middle of Hanover Avenue.

“Traffic was stopped in all directions in order to keep the public safe,” Boothroyd wrote in a news release. “The male was given several clear commands to stop walking and keep his hands visible. The male ignored all verbal commands given to him.”

Boothroyd said officers identified the man as Tyler Dowd, who had several active warrants for his arrest.

“Dowd continued to ignore officers' commands and continued walking on Hanover Avenue towards a more residential section,” Boothroyd wrote. “Due to this fact, it was decided to approach Dowd and attempt to take him into custody. Officers and Detectives were able to take Dowd to the ground and successfully take him into custody.

“The rifle on his back was determined to be a crossbow with a collapsible stock. The limbs of the crossbow were removed and from a distance removing those limbs made the crossbow closely resemble a rifle. Inside of his backpack was located an Orange Orion Flare gun, with a modified 12 gauge cartridge inside. The cartridge had been hollowed out and appeared to be re-packed with glass and other debris.”

Dowd was arrested by Wallingford police with a similar flare gun on May 28, according to Boothroyd.

Boothroyd said Dowd is the subject of an active protection order that prohibits him from possession of any firearms.

Dowd was given medical attention at the scene, and then taken to the Meriden Police Department, according to Boothroyd.

Dowd was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon, violation of a protective order, interfering with an officer, and breach of peace. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

He was also arrested on warrants and charged with second-degree failure to appear and two counts of first-degree failure to appear. He was held in lieu of bonds totaling $177,500 for those charges.