Police: State Worker Threatened To 'Go Postal' At South Street Office

A 51-year-old state worker facing a disciplinary hearing was taken into custody after allegedly threatening to “go postal” and warning a supervisor to wear a bullet-proof vest, police said.

Melvin J. Carmichael of Middletown, an employee at a South Street office of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, was arrested Friday morning as he left a car to attend his hearing at DEEP headquarters in Hartford. No weapons were found.

Carmichael, who was put on paid administrative leave Oct. 19, was charged with second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, police said.

According to police, Carmichael told a supervisor that Oct. 21 was going to be his last day and he “might go postal on Friday and go to the meeting [at DEEP] with a firearm in an ankle holster.”

Police said other DEEP employees at 141 South St. were told by Carmichael that he might “go postal but don’t worry you guys are safe.” Carmichael’s immediate supervisor, who appeared to be the focus of the threats, told police he was warned to “come in with a bullet-proof vest because he might shoot me.”

Police questioned Carmichael Oct. 20 at his home at 437 West St. in Middletown. Carmichael acknowledged making allegedly threatening comments “kiddingly,” police said.

Carmichael worked in the DEEP’s purchasing department at 141 Shield St., a co-worker said.

On Wednesday, DEEP police escorted Carmichael out of the office after the alleged threats and  were contacted.

West Hartford police, including detectives in the special investigations division, handled the case with DEEP and state police assistance, according to an arrest report. SID detectives took Carmichael into custody at 9:30 a.m. at the DEEP at 79 Elm St. in Hartford.

The South Street building also houses , and several other businesses.

Carmichael was arraigned Friday in Hartford Community Court and was being held Monday on $100,000 bail. He was scheduled to return to court Oct. 27.