Woman arrested for allegedly throwing ‘powdery substance’ on CT mall employee

A Meriden woman was arrested for allegedly throwing a “powdery substance” at an employee at the Meriden Mall on Thursday, police said.

Cindy Luzunaris, 42, is facing charges of third-degree assault and first-degree breach of peace, according to the Meriden Police Department.

Around 12:43 p.m. on Thursday, Hunters Ambulance, the Meriden Fire Department and the Meriden Police Department were dispatched to the Windsor store at the Meriden Mall on a report of a customer allegedly throwing a “powdery substance” at an employee, police said Thursday.

The employee was reported to have eye irritation and “felt as if their throat was closing up.” police said.

As first responders arrived at the scene, the area was cordoned off. The victim was transported to MidState Medical Center and was listed in stable condition on Thursday, according to police.

Meriden detectives identified Luzunaris as a suspect. She was located later in the evening on Thursday and was placed under arrest, police said.

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Protection, Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were called in to assist with the identification and collection of the powdery substance, police said.

Police said Friday that further testing was being done on the substance to determine exactly what it was. “We are confident in stating that it was not a biological contaminant/agent,” Lieutenant Darrin McKay said in a release on Friday.

Luzunaris has been released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 30, according to police.

The Meriden Police Department’s Patrol and Detective Divisions are conducting the ongoing investigation.