Crime & Safety
Police: State Worker Threatened To 'Go Postal' At South Street Office
After alleged threats, Middletown man taken into custody in Hartford on his way to DEEP disciplinary hearing.
A 51-year-old state worker facing a disciplinary hearing was taken into custody after allegedly threatening to “go postal” and warning a supervisor to wear a bullet-proof vest, police said.
Melvin J. Carmichael of Middletown, an employee at a South Street office of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, was arrested Friday morning as he left a car to attend his hearing at DEEP headquarters in Hartford.
Carmichael, who was put on paid administrative leave Oct. 19, was charged with second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, police said.
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According to police, Carmichael told a supervisor that Oct. 21 was going to be his last day and he “might go postal on Friday and go to the meeting [at DEEP] with a firearm in an ankle holster.”
Police said other DEEP employees at 141 South St. were told by Carmichael that he might “go postal but don’t worry you guys are safe.” Carmichael’s immediate supervisor, who appeared to be the focus of the threats, told police he was warned to “come in with a bullet-proof vest because he might shoot me.”
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Carmichael also allegedly told his supervisor, “The first person I’m going to shoot is you,” according to police.
Carmichael worked in the DEEP’s purchasing department at 141 Shield Street, a co-worker said. Based on interviews with office workers, DEEP police said Carmichael frequently spoke about firearms.
On Wednesday, DEEP police escorted Carmichael out of the office after the alleged threats and were contacted. Carmichael's hearing was apparently related to his attendance record at his job.
Police questioned Carmichael Oct. 20 at his home at 437 West St. in Middletown. Carmichael acknowledged making threats and said he made the comments “kiddingly,” police said. He indicated he did not own any guns.
West Hartford police, including detectives in the special investigations division, handled the case with DEEP and state police assistance, according to an arrest report. SID detectives took Carmichael into custody at 79 Elm St. in Hartford and no weapons were found.
The South Street building also houses , and several other businesses.
Carmichael was arraigned Friday in Hartford Community Court and was being held Monday on $100,000 bail. He was scheduled to return to court Oct. 27.
