Three former felons arrested for gun possession in Meriden

MERIDEN, Connecticut (WTNH) – Three ex-felons were arrested last night after an altercation in Meriden resulted in guns being drawn, according to police.

Meriden Police officers were dispatched to 236 Grove Street at approximately 11:28 p.m. after witnesses in the area reported a fight between three men during which one of them dropped a firearm. Witnesses were also able to provide a police description of the suspect with the weapon.

At the scene, officers approached three men they observed getting into a vehicle. According to police, the men admitted to having a verbal argument “in which they attempted to calm the driver down.”

The three men arrested are James Hill and Ernest Harold, both of Hamden, and Jeremiah Perkins of Waterbury.

Hill, who had a warrant out for his arrest for failure to register as a sex offender, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal carrying of a pistol, carrying a weapon in a vehicle and illegal sale, delivery or transfer of pistols and revolvers. He is being held on $700,000 bail.

Perkins (left), Hill (middle) and Harold (right).

After officers realized that one of the men matched the witnesses’ description, they searched the vehicle and the suspects for weapons. They found two fully loaded guns under the passenger seat.

Harold is being held on $500,000 bail and is charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal carrying of a pistol, carrying weapons in a vehicle, and illegal sale, delivery or transfer of pistols and revolvers.

The charges against Perkins include illegal possession of a firearm, illegal carrying of a pistol, possession of weapons in a vehicle, and illegal sale, delivery or transfer of pistols and revolvers.

According to police, all three men were convicted felons with previous convictions for drug and firearms offenses.