Men Fired ‘Blanks’ From 2nd-Floor Apartment Toward Street: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — Two men were arrested after police said they were firing “blanks” and throwing firecrackers from a second-floor apartment toward the street Sunday in Meriden.

Police responded to the area of Broad Street and East Main Street around 6:20 p.m. on April 2 on the report of a man shooting from an apartment window toward the road.

The caller told police that he thought it could have been blanks because no one was struck.

Police said the surrounding streets were shut down to all motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic. The reported shots were determined to be coming from a second-floor apartment in the 500 block of Broad Street, according to police.

“While the first Officer arrived and were speaking to the complainant, loud pops consistent with gun fire were heard coming from said building,” police wrote in a news release. “Officers secured the building and made contact with the second-floor apartment resident where the shots were reportedly coming from. Officers made contact with three occupants and a small child inside the apartment. All adults were detained without any incident. Once it was confirmed that the threat to the public was quelled, traffic was allowed to resume.

“It was ultimately discovered that the two males were the ones involved in this incident and had discharged ‘blank guns’ and thrown firecrackers out the second-story window out towards Broad Street.”

Police said a search warrant was applied for and items were found.

Frank Nevarez, 59, was arrested and charged with risk of injury to a minor, brandishing a facsimile firearm, breach of peace, second-degree threatening, and failure to store a firearm. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

Angel Aviles, 37, was arrested on charges of risk of injury to a minor, brandishing a firearm, breach of peace, and second-degree threatening. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.