Vernon Man Facing Arson, Gun Charges In Manchester Shooting Case

MANCHESTER, CT — The driver of a gold Chevrolet Impala — a Vernon man with a local criminal history who was a suspect in a shooting last week in the Charter Oak section of Manchester — is facing additional charges, police said Friday.

Jahzaun Clarke, 24, was charged on a warrant in Manchester with:

• Conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree
• Conspiracy to commit arson in the third degree
• Criminal possession of a firearm

The shooting incident took place on Jan. 18. At 12:06 that morning, officers responded to the area of 104 Charter Oak Street on a report of shots fired. According to an incident report, the caller told police that several rounds were fired from a gold Impala. Police were told the car sped off in a western direction on Charter Oak Street, according to the report.

The impala is registered to Clarke and it was located near the scene on Main Street that night, according to the report. Clarke was charged with violating a protective order while police continued to investigate the indecent and his case was assigned a $100,000 bond, records show.

Investigators then learned that, prior to the shooting, someone in vehicle attempted to set a car on fire at the Charter Oak residence, according to a warrant.

After Clarke was taken into custody for violation of a protective order, with assistance from officers assigned to the East Central Narcotics Task Force, a search warrant for the vehicle was executed, police said. Investigators discovered "items related to the attempted arson" and the gun believed to have been used in the shooting on Charter Oak Street. Police said shots were also fired on a nearby Interstate 384 ramp.

A second warrant was obtained for Clarke with the three additional charges. An additional $750,000 bond was assigned to the case, records show.

Vernon police said he has been arrested in their town several times over the past few years for violation that include traffic stops and drug-related offenses.