Evidence Tampering Charges Filed Against Woman in Rockville Drive-By Shooting Case

VERNON, CT — A woman identified in an arrest warrant as the girlfriend of a suspect in a summertime Rockville drive-by shooting has been charged with evidence tampering and second-degree hindering prosecution, Vernon police said on Wednesday.

Nina Cruz, 23, of New Britain, was arrested on Tuesday, according to a warrant.

She is accused of trying to delete text messages between herself and the suspect in the case, Coolidge Edwards, who is a known Rockville troublemaker who has a history of involvement with firearms, according to a warrant. In one instance, she tried it when a detective's back was turned, but he caught her and messages between her a Coolidge were recovered.

On July 26, Vernon police detectives, with the assistance of New Britain police, took into custody Edwards, of 56 Ward St. Vernon, in connection with the daytime drive-by shooting that occurred on Ward Street in Vernon two days earlier.

Coolidge was located and arrested in New Britain, police said.

It is alleged that on July 24, Coolidge fired shots from his vehicle at an occupied vehicle, striking the other vehicle, police said. Police recovered the bullets, according to a warrant.

No one was injured, police said.

Coolidge has been charged with criminal attempt at assault in the first degree, illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a firearm without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment, police said.

Patch File Photo