Crime & Safety
Driver Charged In Crash That Damaged World War I Monument: Meriden PD
A man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that significantly damaged the World War I monument in Meriden, police said.
MERIDEN, CT — A man has been arrested after police said he significantly damaged the World War I Wall of Honor memorial in Meriden in a hit-and-run crash last month.
Police received a report around 10:05 p.m. on March 21 of a crash involving the World War I Wall of Honor memorial in the median of Broad Street, just south of East Main Street. The involved vehicle left the scene before police arrived.
Police said evidence was recovered at the scene, including motor vehicle parts, that could later be matched to a suspect vehicle. No suspect vehicle was identified that night, according to police.
Find out what's happening in Meridenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Over the following days, the Major Crimes Division joined in the investigation and conducted a canvass of the area,” police wrote in a news release. “Detectives obtained video footage which showed a white pickup truck with a number of distinctive features colliding with the monument. Through cooperation with the Wallingford Police Department, investigators learned that a vehicle matching this description was involved in a rollover crash in Wallingford several minutes after the collision in Meriden.”
Wallingford officers identified the vehicle as a white 2013 GMC Sierra K1500 and the driver as 43-year-old Conor Walsh, according to police. The GMC was towed to a local impound yard following the rollover, police said.
Find out what's happening in Meridenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Officer Saleeba, with assistance from the Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team, Detective Division, and Police Mechanic, obtained a search warrant and performed a mechanical inspection on the GMC,” police wrote. “This revealed additional evidence linking the GMC to the monument crash.”
Walsh turned himself in on an arrest warrant on April 22. He was charged with evading responsibility, operating a motor vehicle while license or registration is suspended, reckless driving, and failure to drive right.
Walsh was released after posting a $5,000 bond with a court date of May 6.
See also: Truck Crashes Into, Significantly Damages World War I Monument: Meriden PD
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
