New Britain man threatened to shoot Meriden Mall security
Meriden CT May 26 2023— A New Britain man was arrested Tuesday after he told a store clerk he’d shoot mall security if they stopped him, according to Meriden police.
After investigating, police did not find a firearm on the man, identified as Jean Espenschied, 65, nor did anyone witness a firearm on him, the police department said in a news release.
Espenschied was also “the subject of a bomb threat in 2020 where he threatened the Hosptial of Central Connecticut-New Britain,” court records state.
Police were initially called to the Meriden Mall on Tuesday around 12:30 p.m. for the report of a man with a firearm, according to court documents. The witness told police that Espenschied was shopping and told a store clerk at Zumiez to “call the cops,” police said
“Not sure if he was joking, the clerk began a humorous dialogue with Espenschied, stating she was the police,” the department said.”Espenschied asked to see the clerk’s badge and gun and began to raise the side of his own shirt only to be stopped when the clerk responded that she didn’t want to see what he had.”
Espenschied then purchased a pair of shoes, and when asked if he’d like his receipt, he told the cashier, “Of course so security won’t stop me, but if they do I’d shoot them in the face,” police reported.
The clerk was fearful and immediately called mall security. Police detained Espenschied as he tried to leave the mall.
Espenschied was charged with second-degree breach of peace. He has since been released after posting a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned in state Superior Court in Meriden on June 6, judicial records show.
Court records show that a judge signed off on a risk protection order Tuesday, prohibiting Espenschied from buying or possessing firearms, ammunition or deadly weapons.
