A man is being held on a $3 million bond after he allegedly tried to shoot the mother of his child Friday night in Meriden, police said.
Jose Esteves, a convicted felon, was charged with criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, theft of a firearm and reckless endangerment, according to the Meriden Police Department.
On Saturday, a woman called police to report that her child’s father had fired a gun at her the night before, police said.
The woman told police that she was out at a bar with friends when Esteves showed up at the same bar. He left before she did and was waiting for her in a parking lot near her home when a friend tried to drop her off later that night, police said.
When her friend tried to drive away from Esteves, he fired a single shot at the vehicle they were in. No one was hit by the bullet, police said.
The woman and her friend left Meriden, but Esteves “continued to harass and threaten her” all night, police said.
After interviewing the woman and witnesses, reviewing surveillance videos from the area and recovering evidence from the scene, an unmarked police vehicle was stationed outside Esteves’ house to keep an eye on him and a marked police vehicle was stationed outside the woman’s house.
Officers spotted Esteves leaving his house and followed him toward the woman’s home, where additional officers were headed to protect her, police said.
Officers pulled Esteves over when he pulled on to her street and placed him under arrest, police said.
Police said they found a loaded, stolen gun near where he was taken into custody. Since Esteves is a convicted felon, he is prohibited from having a gun.
Esteves was being held in lieu of a $3 million bond and a protective order was put in place, police said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at mpdtips@meridenct.gov or 203-630-6253.
Connecticut’s Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 by calling 1-800-774-2900.