On Wednesday, 11/13/24 at approximately 9:40 AM, the Essex Resident Trooper's Office was contacted for assistance with a property retrieval at a local hotel. Upon arriving on scene, Essex Officers and the Essex Resident Trooper learned that the individual reportedly coming to retrieve property was a convicted felon and was allegedly in possession of firearms. It was also reported that this individual had a minor child in his custody.
The individual in question was later identified as Robert Tinley (DOB 09/06/89), of Essex. Upon Tinley's arrival at the hotel, he was met by Essex Officers. Once outside his vehicle, an Essex Officer questioned Tinley as to if he was in possessions of firearms. Tinley admitted that he was, and he then became evasive with the Officers on scene and refused to comply with verbal commands. Tinley was told not to re-enter the vehicle and refused to comply, taking off from the hotel parking lot at a high rate of speed on Route 153 towards Westbrook. Tinley did in fact have a child in his custody at this time, and it was later learned that he had stopped just prior to the exit 65 ramp to I-95 southbound and let the child out, telling them to walk to a relative's house.
Tinley then entered I-95 south and drove to exit 63, where he exited and began traveling north on Route 81 in Clinton. Troopers along with a Westbrook Officer located Tinley's vehicle on Route 81, where a high-risk felony traffic stop was conducted. Tinley was subsequently arrested without further incident at this time. When Tinley was again questioned about the firearms in his possession, Tinley explained that he had two handguns in a safe, which he had tossed from the vehicle when he fled on Route 153. The safe was later located by Troopers, having broken upon impact. Both firearms within the safe as described by Tinley were found laying in the open along Route 153, which were seized as evidence. Additionally, both firearms were determined to have been loaded. The child Tinley had left unattended was later located unharmed by a Westbrook Officer, who in turn reunited the child with a family member.
As the investigation continued with Tinley in custody, additional information was developed supporting additional firearms in his possession. A search and seizure warrant was obtained, which was later served at a storage facility in Old Saybrook rented by Tinley. With the assistance of Old Saybrook Police, two shotguns, a pellet rifle and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition were seized.
Tinley was transported to Troop F, where he was processed on the following charges:
CGS 14-222; Reckless Driving
CGS 21a-279(a)(1); Possession of a Controlled Substance
CGS 29-35(a)(1); Carrying Pistol Without a Permit (2 counts)
CGS 53-202w(c(1; Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine
CGS 53-21; Risk Of Injury To a Minor
CGS 53a-167a; Interfering with an Officer/Resisting
CGS 53a-217; Criminal Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition/Defense Weapon (5 counts)
CGS 53a-217c; Criminal Possession of a Pistol/Revolver (2 counts)
CGS 53a-64; Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree
Tinley was held on a $60,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 11/14/24. Please see the attached criminal information summary.
