Ax-Wielding Man, Who Smashed Storefront Windows, Doors Charged: NHPD

NEW HAVEN, CT — After wielding first a rock and then a stolen ax as well and smashing storefront windows and doors on Grand Avenue and State Street on Monday, police have charged a New Haven man with myriad crimes.

At around 11:30 a.m. Monday, a Grand Avenue business alarm was triggered, drawing police. They "determined" that Tywan Groomes, 45, "smashed the window with a rock and stole an ax from inside" the business, according to spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart."

"Groomes then began walking down State Street with the ax and started smashing the windows of random businesses as he passed by, ultimately damaging five separate windows," police said.

The State Fish Farm Market, 892 State St., was one of the businesses targeted, as was Blessings II Go Chinese eatery at 898 State St.

Cops found Groomes in the area of State and Eld streets, "still armed with the ax," and while police said he "initially refused" to drop it and tried to evade officers, "after a brief struggle, he was taken into custody," Bruckhart said. "He did not provide any reason for his behavior."

Groomes was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, second-degree criminal mischief, interfering with an officer, second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny, and third-degree criminal trespass.

Held on a $50,000 bond, he was "taken to hospital for evaluation," police said.