Wallingford Police To Be Featured On Discovery Docu-Series Show

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford police incident involving an armed standoff with a man in April 2021 will be featured on an upcoming Investigation Discovery documentary series, according to police.

The April 14, 2021, incident led to the arrest of then 38-year-old Christopher Poach after a domestic violence incident escalated to a barricade situation. Police said at the time that Poach had assaulted the victim and threatened the victim with other weapons.

Before arriving at the scene, police learned that Poach was in the possession of a sword, rifle, Taser, pepper spray, multiple knives, and body armor among other items. After officers arrived at the scene, the situation escalated to the point where Poach barricaded himself inside the home, according to Sgt. Stephen Jaques. The victim was no longer in the home at the time of the standoff situation.

While officers surrounded the barricaded home, they saw a “rifle barrel sticking out of a top-level window,” according to Jaques.

Poach then tried to leave the home while holding a rifle case and officers ran after him. While Poach was running, he drew the rifle from its case and continued to run, according to Jaques.

Jaques said Poach “taunted the pursuing officers to shoot him” and officers eventually caught him while he was still armed with the rifle and was taken into custody without further incident.

The rifle was determined to be a Ruger mini 14 .223 caliber and was loaded with a full magazine and one round in the chamber, according to Jaques. Body armor, along with other items/weapons, were later found inside the home, Jaques said.

Poach was arrested on charges of second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree breach of peace, stealing a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of body armor, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening and first-degree reckless endangerment. He was later convicted of carrying a pistol without a permit with a sentence of five years in prison, suspended after 15 months with three years of probation, third-degree assault with a sentenced of 11 months in prison, and second-degree threatening with a sentence of 11 months in prison, according to Jaques.

The incident will be featured on the Investigation Discovery documentary series “Body Cam” on Nov. 1 at 9 p.m. on the Investigation Discovery Network. The show can also be seen on the streaming service Discovery+.