Man Wanted In East Haven Asked Police To 'Kill Him': Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A man wanted on domestic violence charges in East Haven was taken into custody in Hamden on Wednesday, police said.

The man tried to get police to "kill him," police said. He was taken into custody but not before he bit, scratched and tried to punch officers, police added.

On Wednesday, police said they received information from the East Haven Police Department that they were actively trying to locate and arrest Derrick Gilliam, 29, on domestic violence charges for an incident that happened in their town, police said.

"East Haven Police further advised that Gilliam was suicidal and wanted to be killed by Police," Hamden police wrote in a news release. "East Haven Police had developed information that Gilliam was in the area of the Hamden Plaza. A Hamden Police Officer located a vehicle associated with Gilliam parked in the Hamden Plaza. Additional Hamden Police Officers responded to the Hamden Plaza.

"Officers approached the vehicle and attempted to take Gilliam into custody," Hamden police said. "Gilliam exited his vehicle and immediately started to fight with Officers. Gilliam yelled at Officers to “kill him”. After a lengthy struggle, Gilliam was taken into custody. During the course of the arrest Gilliam bit, scratched and attempted to punch Officers. Several Officers received injuries."

It was later learned that the New Haven Police Department was also looking to arrest Gilliam for charges that occurred earlier today in their town to include kidnapping, police added.

Hamden Police also have an active arrest warrant for Gilliam for a protective order violation. The Hamden Police Department will be applying for an additional arrest warrant for charges from today’s incident in the Hamden Plaza, police said.

Gilliam also had 13 additional active arrest warrants from other police agencies. After his arrest Gilliam was turned over to the New Haven Police Department to be charged for the incident today in New Haven, police said.

Hamden Police Chief E.P. Reynolds commented, “I commend the Hamden Police Officers and Officers of our brother agencies that assisted in as much as we were able to bring into custody a violent criminal without the use of deadly force. The early information received in this investigation suggests that this individual was deliberately trying to escalate this incident into a deadly force situation. We are relieved that this individual is now in custody. I would like to wish a speedy recovery to our officers injured in this incident."