Man Charged After Threat Of Gun At Meriden Mall: Police

MERIDEN, CT — A 65-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an incident involving a threat of a gun at the Meriden Mall on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Police received a call around 12:25 p.m. from the Meriden Mall security team indicating that there was a customer inside a store who mentioned being in possession of a gun and that he was believed to be armed, police said on Tuesday.

John Barry Elementary School at 124 Columbia Street was temporarily placed in a lockdown as a precaution as the incident was being investigated, according to police.

Responding officers contacted the initial witness at the mall.

It was reported that a man, later identified as Jean Espenschied, was shopping and told the store clerk to “call the cops,” police said in an update Wednesday.

“Not sure if he was joking, the clerk began a humorous dialogue with Espenschied stating she was the police,” police wrote in a news release. “Espenschied asked to see the clerk’s badge and gun and began to raise the side of his own shirt only to be stopped when the clerk responded that she didn’t want to see what he had.

“Espenschied went on to purchase a pair of shoes. When asked if he’d like his receipt, he advised the cashier ‘of course so security won’t stop me, but if they do I’d shoot them in the face.’ This statement caused immediate fear and mall security was called.”

Police said Espenschied was detained by officers as he tried to leave the mall.

No gun was ever witnessed or found on Espenschied, according to police.

Espenschied was charged with second-degree breach of peace. He was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.