Details Emerge in Rockville Altercation Involving Gun

Vernon police have released details of the altercation in Rockville that wound up with two suspects arrested and a loaded gun confiscated late Tuesday morning.

Around 11:15 a.m., police received a 911 call reporting a disturbance involving several people on Woodland Street, near Prospect Street.

“It was immediately reported that one of the suspects involved was in possession of a handgun,” Det. James Grady said in a news release. “Numerous Vernon police officers and detectives responded to the area. Prior to the arrival of officers, it was reported the suspect with the handgun had fled on foot through several neighboring backyards.”

After searching the area for about 30 minutes, “four individuals were found hiding in a detached garage located at 56 Ward Street,” Grady said. “Officers found and recovered a loaded 9mm handgun inside the garage, nearby where the suspects were hiding.”

Two of the four individuals found hiding in the garage were positively identified as being the aggressors in the Woodland Street dispute, according to Grady. During the dispute, 19-year-old Coolidge Edwards “allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim and threatened to kill him.”

Edwards, of 52 Prospect St., Rockville, was charged with carrying a gun without a permit, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault, interfering with an officer, tampering with evidence, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree threatening and refusing to submit to fingerprinting. He is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

The other suspect, Justin Benny Colon, 18, of 132 Union St., Rockville, was charged with second-degree breach of peace, second-degree criminal trespass, interfering with an officer, conspiracy to commit first-degree reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit second-degree threatening and conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 surety bond.

At the police station, Edwards refused to be processed or have his booking photo taken, Grady said.

Edwards and Colon are both scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Rockville Superior Court.

Photos: (left) Justin Colon; (right) the handgun recovered during the arrest. Photos courtesy of Vernon Police Department