Customer Throws Powdery Substance At Employee At Mall: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — An employee was hospitalized after a customer threw a powdery substance at them at a store in the Meriden Mall on Thursday afternoon, according to police.

Emergency crews responded around 12:45 p.m. to Windsor at the Meriden Mall, at 470 Lewis Avenue, after the employee was reported to have eye irritation and felt like their throat was closing up, according to Meriden Deputy Police Chief Jeremiah Scully.

Windsor is a retail store that specializes in women’s clothing and on-trend fashions.

Scully said the area was cordoned off and the victim was treated by Hunters Ambulance personnel. The victim was taken to MidState Medical Center for further observation and treatment, according to Scully.

Update: Woman Charged In ‘Suspicious Powder’ Throwing Incident At Mall: PD

The victim was reported to be in stable condition, Scully said.

“The Meriden Fire Department confirmed the presence of a powdery substance in the area the employee stated the substance was thrown on them,” Scully wrote in a news release.

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Protection, CT State Police Bomb Squad and the FBI responded and assisted with the identification and collection of the powdery substance, according to Scully.

“The Windsor store remains closed until a private contractor can be called in to clean up the affected areas,” Scully wrote. “The rest of the mall is operating normally.

“This is an active investigation. The Meriden Police Department Patrol and Detective Division are working collaboratively to gather video, witness statements, and to identify the suspect and/or suspects. Two persons of interest have been identified, however, we will not be releasing their identities at this time.”