Meriden city manager resigns following incident involving police

The Meriden City Council has unanimously voted to accept a resignation submitted by city manager Tim Coon following an incident last week that was his second run-in with police since April.

Coon’s resignation will take effect Jan. 1, 2024, city leaders said at a special meeting in Meriden City Hall on Monday. He will be on administrative leave for medical reasons until then, city officials said following an executive session that lasted about 40 minutes. The closed-door discussions were preceded by public comment on the matter, which included a mix of individuals condemning Coon and those expressing support for him, citing his previous service in the military and the need for him to get help.

Coon, 64, has not responded to requests for comment.

The special meeting Monday was announced last week following a welfare check Wednesday at about 1:44 a.m. in which police found Coon sleeping in the common hallway of a multi-family building in Meriden where he rents an apartment, according to the police report tied to the incident. Coon couldn’t find the keys to his apartment, which he told police he thought were in the center console of his vehicle, the report indicated.

Officers searched the vehicle and could not find the keys, though another resident was able to provide police with a master key that allowed them to get into Coon’s apartment, the report said. He declined medical treatment and was allowed to spend the night in his apartment without going to the hospital.

The incident last Wednesday followed Coon’s arrest on April 26 on DUI and other charges when Connecticut State Police said he was driving north on the southbound side of Route 3 in East Hartford at about 1:50 a.m. Coon entered the Route 2 off-ramp as troopers were en route and left the road as he was negotiating a curve before striking a stump.

State police said the car rolled over and came to rest in the median. Coon did not report any injuries.

State police said Coon following the crash failed multiple field sobriety tests and was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane and driving the wrong way on a divided highway, according to state police.

Following the April arrest, the Meriden City Council voted to allow Coon to keep his job with the stipulation that he complete treatment through the city’s Employee Assistance Program.

In July, Coon was granted a pretrial diversionary program in connection with the pending criminal charges. Those charges could be dismissed as early as next July if he is successful in the program.

City council members on Monday tabled the appointment of an acting city manager. In a statement issued Thursday announcing the special meeting, city leaders said Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado would serve as acting city manager in the interim.