A Southington Walmart customer told police a stranger walked up to his black Mazda, hurled racial slurs and profanity at him, then spit on him before the encounter escalated into a chaotic scene outside and inside the Queen Street store. Police say that Nov. 1 confrontation has now led to criminal charges against a 32-year-old Kent man, five days after officers first asked the public for help identifying what happened.
Officers Called to an 'Active Incident' Sunday Morning
Southington police said officers responded to an active incident at the Walmart on Queen Street at 11:23 a.m. on Nov. 1, according to Patch. Investigators said the man in the black Mazda was approached by a stranger who shouted slurs and profanity at him before spitting on him. Additional callers told police the same man was throwing merchandise and causing a disturbance inside the store, and that a driver allegedly struck several vehicles in the parking lot, including the Mazda.
At the time, police had not identified a suspect and asked anyone who witnessed the incident or believed they may have been a victim to come forward. Southington police posted a photo described as showing a bearded man with tattooed arms wearing a dark t-shirt, jeans and boots, according to a report from CT Insider, which noted the police post included no other details about the incident.
Kent Man Arrested, Facing Bias and Mischief Charges
By Friday, Southington police had identified and taken into custody 32-year-old Matthew Colby of Kent. The station's report said Colby now faces second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, two counts of second-degree breach of peace, and two counts of second-degree criminal mischief.
Investigators are also looking into whether Colby was involved in a separate incident in West Hartford that same weekend, though Southington police have not indicated that any charges have been filed in connection with that case. The outcome of the Southington charges, including whether Colby has entered a plea or appeared in court, has not been reported.
A Walmart With a History of Trouble
The Queen Street Walmart has drawn police attention before. In August, Southington police said two suspects shoplifted approximately $474 worth of merchandise from the store on a Thursday evening, per the same Patch account. Years earlier, a man with a gun attempted to rob the store on a Friday morning, as reported by NBC Connecticut.
In January 2023, police responded to a reported purse-snatching in the same parking lot, after a 71-year-old woman was reportedly knocked to the ground and her purse stolen, according to Patch's earlier coverage. The evidence does not establish a broader pattern connecting these incidents, but the string of calls underscores how often officers have been dispatched to the retail lot on Queen Street.
Anyone with information about either the Southington incident or the possible West Hartford connection, or who knows the whereabouts of the man or vehicle described, is asked to contact the Southington Police Department at 860-378-1600.
