Gunman, police exchange gunfire
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On Monday afternoon Vermont State Police Cpl. Ed Hunter uses a dog to investigate a police-involved shooting on Park Street in Rutland. Behind him is Rutland City Police Officer Frank Post, (second from left), who fired his gun in the incident late Sunday night, according to a police press release. Vyto Starinskas / Rutland Herald |
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By Brent Curtis Staff Writer - Published: November 10, 2009
A city police officer exchanged gunfire with a Brooklyn, N.Y., man during a pursuit on Park Street late Sunday night, according to state police, who are investigating the incident.
City police declined any comment on the case, which is being investigated by state police at the request of city Chief Anthony Bossi. The Rutland County State's Attorney's office and Vermont Attorney General's office are also reviewing the case.
Police reported no injuries in the exchange of gunfire that took place in the area of the Howard Center Park Street Program campus. Yellow crime tape sealed off the central basketball court on the campus all day Monday and state police forensic investigators and detectives could be seen surveying the court, a parking lot just to the north and a small meadow and woodland beyond the lot.
According to state and Rutland police, a resident in the neighborhood called to complain about a car parked on Park Street that was flashing its headlights repeatedly.
Officer Frank Post and Cpl. Andrew Todd responded, pulling the vehicle over at the intersection of Granger and Park streets.
During the stop, the officers noticed that a passenger in the vehicle, 22-year-old Tyshawn L. Plowden, had a handgun tucked into the waistband of his pants. The police ordered Plowden out of the vehicle but the Brooklyn man allegedly fled on foot, police said.
Post and his German shepherd companion, King Bricks, gave chase. At some point during the pursuit, Post heard a single gunshot report in front of him along the path Plowden had taken.
Post returned fire, but Plowden escaped, state police said.
Plowden was found soon after, inside a city residence. Police say Plowden has been charged with aggravated assault and other charges will potentially follow. Police released no further information about the incident or the investigation on Monday.
But the incident didn't go unnoticed to merchants whose businesses border the scene of the shooting or to members of a neighborhood watch organization who gathered Monday night for a previously scheduled meeting at the Vermont Achievement Center right across the street from the cordoned basketball court.
"Things have been exciting down here, haven't they?" A resident at the Rutland United Neighborhoods meeting said to city police Lt. Kevin Geno, who came to the meeting to talk about a string of recent muggings in the area.
"More exciting than we like," Geno replied.
The lieutenant explained the outline of the incident to residents at the meeting, but said he couldn't answer residents' questions because of the ongoing state police investigation.
State's Attorney William Sorrell, Rutland County State's Attorney Marc Brierre, Bossi and city police Capt. Scott Tucker could not be reached for comment.
brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com