Crime & Safety

Chatfield Hollow Reopens Wednesday Afternoon Following Poisoning Threat

Madison police assist state EnCon officers in search for suspect Tuesday.

By Lauren Lanzon and Pem McNerney

Update as of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday: 

Connecticut's DEEP has reopened Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth, as well as the swimming area, after closing the park yesterday following emails they had received from a Madison man threatening to poison the waters. The emails had been received starting Tuesday afternoon, and were of a "threatening nature." 

The emails were allegedly sent by Wayde A. Isakson, of Horsepond Road in Madison. Wayde A. Isakson was charged with first-degree threatening, breach of peace and making terroristic threats, a spokesman for the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection said.

Following the threats, DEEP EnCon Police, along with CT State Police and Madison Police, began an investigation that resulted in Isakson's arrest at Chatfield Hollow. Isakson was transported to Troop F for processing. Isakson is scheduled to appear in Middletown Superior Court on September 10, according to a press release from DEEP. 

"DEEP’s Emergency Response Unit responded to the scene and began testing the waters there," the release continued.  "The results of those tests revealed no evidence of any hazardous materials in the water."

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The incident remains under investigation by DEEP EnCon Police.

Original story: 

Chatfield Hollow in nearby Killingworth remained closed Wednesday morning following the arrest of a Madison man Tuesday on charges of threatening to poison the water at the popular state park. The state DEEP is testing the waters and expects to have results back sometime Wednesday.

Madison Police Chief Jack Drumm said Madison police dispatch was contacted Tuesday afternoon by the state Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police dispatch about the incident. Drumm said Madison police were told that numerous threatening emails had been sent and that the state DEEP was trying to locate Wayde A. Isakson, who lives on Horsepond Road in Madison. 

Drumm spoke with Col. Kyle Overturf of the state Environmental Conservation Police about the incident and then, after the appropriate paperwork was filed, police tried locating the suspect through his cell phone. After pinging his phone repeatedly, the police determined that the suspect appeared to be coming out of the back of the park, near Route 145, on foot. He was apprehended and his truck was later found in the park, Drumm said. 

At the same time, Madison police secured the family home on Horsepond Road in Madison, and had Madison police officers standing by to make sure other family members were safe. "We located the wife and she was fine," Drumm said. Drumm said it is his understanding that the suspect is getting the help he needs following the incident. "That's the important thing," he said.

Drumm said he did not know the exact nature of the threats in the emails, other than that they were repeated threats. 

According to spokesman Dwayne Gardner, DEEP completed testing of Chatfield Hollow last night, and is expecting results some time midday Wednesday. As of Wednesday morning, the park and swimming area were closed and will remain so until the testing results are available.

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"When we hear, we will send out a news release on the update," Gardner said Wednesday morning. "Right now, the gates are down and signs are posted to let people know about the closure.

The Courant reported earlier that DEEP employees began receiving threatening emails Tuesday afternoon from Isakson. Though Gardner could not go into details on the nature of the emails, he did tell Patch that the threats were not directed at a specific individual or individuals.

Gardner stated that, as far as DEEP was aware, there have been no other threats other than the one currently being investigated at Chatfield.  

The case remains under investigation.


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