Teen Tries To Rob Retired Cop, 74, With Fake Gun: Naugatuck Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — A Naugatuck teen robbed the wrong person, allegedly speaking of course. Police say a teen approached a 74-year-old retired police officer Tuesday morning in an attempt to rob him with what appeared to be a gun.

But when the retired cop looked at the "gun," he noticed it was not real and was possibly a toy, police said. The victim tired to knock the "gun" away from the suspect with an umbrella and the teen fled, police said. The retired cop gave Naugatuck police a detailed description of the suspect and within hours the accused was apprehended, police said.

Naugatuck Police Lt. Bryan Cammarata said at 8:28 a.m. officers responded to Linden Park on a report of an attempted robbery in which the suspect displayed a handgun.

Officers spoke with the victim who is a 74 year-old retired police officer who advised that he was walking on the sidewalk near the tennis courts in Linden Park at about 8:15 AM, when a male walked up behind him, and grabbed him by the shoulder, turning him around, police said.

The victim advised that the suspect told him "Gimme your money" and pointed a silver handgun at him, police said. The victim advised that he immediately recognized that the handgun was not real and was possibly a toy, police said. The victim advised that he told the offender he did not have any money on him and attempted to knock the gun out of his hand with an umbrella he was walking with, police said. The victim advised that he was unable to knock the gun from the suspects hand and that the suspect immediately fled, police said.

Then victim provided a detailed description of the suspect and units searched the area. At about 11:00 AM police were alerted of a suspicious male on North Main Street who matched the description of the suspect, police said. Officers located the subject and recovered the facsimile weapon from the suspect’s person, police said. The suspect was questioned and confessed to attempting to rob the victim earlier in Linden Park, police said.

The suspect was arrested and identified as Derrick Wilson, 18, of Bridge Street, Naugatuck, police said. Wilson is being held on bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court at 9:30 AM on the following charges:

• Attempted Robbery in the First degree
• Possession of a Facsimile Handgun
• Breach of Peace

Image via Naugatuck Police