Parking Space Dispute With Neighbor Leads to Six Hour Police Standoff In Meriden

A frightening and bizarre incident out of Meriden last night.

Meriden police say Regina Rivera, 48, of 775 West Main Street, allegedly threatened a neighbor with a knife over a parking space dispute with a neighbor.

She proceeded to walk down West Main Street holding a knife and an alcoholic beverage, NBC Connecticut reported.

Worried neighbors called police, and by the time they arrived Rivera was back in her apartment, where she threatened to shoot officers and neighbors in her complex and even blow up the building, WFSB 3 reports.

Police say the incident began around 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Hubbard Park Condominium. A neighbor left a note for Rivera saying she parked her car between two parking spaces and left her no room to park, NBC Connecticut reports.

Rivera then allegedly began cursing at the victim, went back inside and got the knife and threatened her while holding an alcoholic beverage, NBC reports.

When police arrived they tried to communicate with Rivera but she turned the stereo up and slid knives under her door, WFSB 3 reports.

Police had the power to the building cut off and evacuated residents. Eventually, Rivera surrendered to police about six hours later. She is being held on $500,000.