Replacement Worker Threw Soda, Spat on and Threatened to Shoot Striking Workers: Orange Police

ORANGE, CT — A replacement worker at Dichello Distributors is accused of throwing soda on strikers, spitting on them and even allegedly threatened to get a gun to shoot them, Orange police said.

Police said when the man left the business he drove his vehicle directly at two different strikers and almost hit them.

Police said they responded to Dichello Distributors at 55 Marsh Hill Road earlier this month for a reported disturbance.

Officers learned that the arrestee, Maurice Wallace, 35, of Elm Street in New Haven, a replacement worker, had an altercation with a group of strikers walking the picket line, police said.

The incident began when strikers and the arrestee exchanged words as Wallace was leaving for the day in his vehicle, police said.

Wallace left the premises, but returned shortly and threw an unopened can of soda at the strikers, spat at them, and threatened to come back with a gun to shoot them, police said in a statement.

He then drove his vehicle directly at two different strikers, narrowly missing both, police said. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with second-degree threatening, third-degree assault, breach of peace, reckless driving, and driving a motor vehicle while under suspension.

He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.