Man allegedly pulls out a knife, threatens to ‘kill everyone’ at CT hotel
A New York man was arrested for allegedly telling Connecticut hotel employees and patrons he was going to “kill everyone” while displaying a knife police said.
Groton Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call from a man around 7:14 a.m. on Sunday alleging that hotel staff at the Baymont Inn at 360 Route 12 in Groton refused to allow him into a room and asked police to assist him, according to the Groton Police Department.
As police were on route, Groton Emergency Dispatch received additional 911 calls from other hotel patrons alleging that the previous caller, later identified as 30-year-old Jonathan Jean-Pierre of Rosedale, New York, displayed a knife and threatened to “kill everyone,” police said.
According to police, all available officers responded to the hotel. The first two arriving officers found Jean-Pierre in front of the Baymont Hotel with a knife in his hand, police said. Officers allegedly gave Jean-Pierre multiple commands to drop the knife, but he refused and began walking toward Route 12, according to police.
After allegedly refusing officers’ commands, an officer deployed his Taser, striking Jean-Pierre and immediately incapacitating him, police said.
Officers reportedly seized a folding multi-tool/knife from Jean-Pierre as evidence, according to police.
Jean-Pierre was evaluated and treated at the scene by members of Groton Ambulance and found to have no injuries, police said.
During the investigation, multiple witnesses told police that Jean-Pierre allegedly became angry about not being able to access a room that the hotel staff had not yet prepared.
Jean-Pierre then allegedly began cursing at the hotel staff in front of members of a youth marching band who were eating breakfast nearby, according to police. The band members, which consisted of youths and adults ranging in age from 13 to 21, were in the area for competition, police said.
One of the parents reportedly approached Jean-Pierre and asked him to quiet down, according to police. At that time, Jean-Pierre allegedly pulled out what the parent believed to be a butterfly-type knife and “and held it to the victim’s throat, making several disturbing comments and indicating his intent to murder the victim, his wife and children, who were all present at the time,” police said.
Hotel staff intervened and took Jean-Pierre outside, where he allegedly continued to display the knife and yell disturbing statements until officers arrived, police said.
No one was injured in the incident, according to police.
Jean-Pierre was taken to Groton Police Headquarters where he was processed and charged with violation of conditions of release, carrying a dangerous weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of second-degree threatening and three counts of second-degree breach of peace.
He was held in lieu of $275,000 bail and arraigned in New London on Monday, police said.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident or other criminal activity is asked to contact the Groton Police Department at 860-441-6712.