Employee Charged In Bomb Threats At Business: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — An employee of Jonal Labs has been arrested in connection with two bomb threats at the business in February, according to police.

Police said 29-year-old Gamalier Santiago was taken into custody by the South Hadley Massachusetts Police Department as a fugitive of justice on Oct. 6 and is awaiting extradition to Connecticut.

The first bomb threat was called in to Jonal Labs, 456 Center St. in Meriden, around 9:50 a.m. on Feb. 9. The threat prompted the evacuation of the business along with a satellite office on Pratt Street, according to police.

Police said all rail traffic through Meriden was also shut down due to the businesses’ close location to the train tracks.

“A nearby family owned restaurant, La Azoguenita, was also forced to evacuate and close,” police wrote in a news release. “Several area residents were asked to evacuate and also prohibited from returning to their residences.”

A second bomb threat was called in to Jonal Labs around 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 21. Police said the threat caused the “same level of disruption” as the first incident.

“With temperatures in the mid-40s, we were forced to order buses for both bomb threats in order to keep the evacuated workers warm,” police wrote. “Many were forced to evacuate without proper cold weather gear. These threats tied up officers from the Patrol, Detective Bureau. Neighborhood Initiative Unit, and Administrative Staff.

“Additionally, fire personnel, command staff and fire Apparatus were tied up at the scene as well. These threats took hours to secure and control perimeters around both Jonal locations as we brought in specially trained bomb detection dogs for both threats. The K-9’s, handlers and Officers conducted methodical searches of both locations on both dates.

“The threats caused the closure of businesses and stopped rail traffic which negatively financially impacted many citizens. A conservative estimate of the financial impact of these threats to those involved is approximately $63,000, with the highest cost associated with the stopping of rail service on both dates.”

Several other organizations, including Connecticut State Police, Amtrak Police Department, Midstate Medical Center and New Britain Transportation, responded to assist in the investigation. Det. Jon Femia worked with several other agencies, including the FBI, on the investigation and a “series of technological tools were used to help identify” Santiago as the suspect, according to police.

Santiago, who was an employee of Jonal Labs at the time of the threats, was charged with two counts of first-degree threatening and held in lieu of bonds totaling $50,000.

Police said Santiago’s mother, Rosa Alvis, was also arrested during the investigation. She was charged with interfering with a police investigation.