PD: Tip Prevents Meriden Armed Robbery

Meriden Police arrested a convicted felon Wednesday who they say was allegedly planning to rob a gas station in Meriden using a shotgun. 

In early March, Johnson Harding, 44, allegedly told someone who police are not identifying that he had obtained a shotgun and was planning to rob the Premium Mini Market and Gas station at Windsor Avenue and West Main Street with it. Harding was on parole at the time.

The unidentified person phoned police with the information, Meriden Police Spokesman Det. Lt. Mark Walerysiak said Thursday.

Meriden Police contacted Harding's parole councilor and both parole officers and Meriden Police went to Harding's house, where they allegedly found a shotgun, but not the suspect. Firearms are illegal for convicted felons to carry. 

Harding did not return to the home for a few days, violating his parole, and was was taken into custody by parole officers at a different location, Walerysiak said.

Meriden Police served Harding with an arrest warrant while in custody on Wednesday. He was arraigned the same day on the charges of criminal attempt at first degree robbery, criminal possession of a defense weapon, and threatening. Bond on this case is $100,000.