Man Found Guilty Of Strangling Woman During Assault In Meriden: Officials

MERIDEN, CT — A Meriden man has been convicted by a jury in connection with the assault of a woman in 2023, according to officials.

Christopher Dingwell Sr., 55, was found guilty by a jury in New Haven Superior Court on April 25 of second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle announced.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on Feb. 20, 2023 in Meriden, Dingwell “dragged a woman by her hair and restricted her breathing by compressing her airway with his forearm and thumb, causing her to lose consciousness,” according to a news release from the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

“Meriden police officers responding to the incident found the defendant in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun and seized it from him before taking him into custody,” according to the news release.

Dingwell, who had a valid State of Connecticut Pistol Permit at the time of the incident, was observed to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest, according to authorities.

The case was investigated by the Meriden Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney David Nielsen and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David J. Strollo, with the assistance of Investigator Kerry Dalling and Paralegal Yaskara Simlick.

Dingwell is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.