Crime & Safety

Police: Man Made Threatening Phone Calls to Connecticut Official in Avon

New York native Jonathan Reich, arrested on May 20, may have made the calls as a result of the Sandy Hook school shooting investigation, police say.

By Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer

Police arrested a New York man Monday in connection to threatening calls made to a Connecticut state official in Avon, another state official and families tied to the December shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, police said.

Jonathan Reich, 22, of 7210 136th Street in Flushing, NY, was charged with second-degree harassment. He turned himself in and was released after posting his $50,000 surety bond. His first scheduled court appearance is June 5 at Hartford's community court on 80 Washington Street. 

Avon police launched an investigation after receiving a complaint on Feb. 1 that "telephone calls were made to a Connecticut state official in Avon that were threatening in nature and resulted from the investigation" of the Sandy Hook tragedy, police stated in a press release. Detectives "identified the suspect as Reich," police said.

Police have not released the identity of the victim.

During the investigation, "police also learned that calls were made to another state official and to certain families of the Sandy Hook tragedy," police said in the statement.

Police have not confirmed at this time whether Reich was also responsible for the other calls to another state official and certain Sandy Hook families. 

The case is still active and remains under investigation, police said.


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