Press release from East Haven Police Department

Two arrests have been made in connection to an incident in which shots were fired in the parking lot of AMF Circle Lanes at 525 Main Street in East Haven. The incident took place at approximately on June 17 at approximately 12:11 a.m.

While investigating an unrelated call in the area, officers heard gunshots coming from the Circle Lanes parking lot and observed people running through the lot. As officers approached the building, they observed several vehicles fleeing the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Officers responding to the area observed one of the fleeing vehicles on Main Street and attempted a motor vehicle stop on it. The vehicle led police on a brief pursuit, but eventually came to a stop in the area of Main Street and Columbus Avenue.

The investigation revealed that the operator of the fleeing vehicle, Daniel Rodriguez, 44, of Bridgeport, and another individual, Damien Brown, 24, of Milford were involved in a physical altercation with several people in the parking lot before Rodriguez brandished a handgun and fired several shots into the air. Rodriguez and Brown were placed under arrest and were transported to the East Haven Police Department for processing. The firearm used in the incident was recovered from Rodriguez’s vehicle.

Rodriguez was charged with unlawful discharge, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, reckless endangerment in the first degree, breach of peace, engaging police in pursuit, and reckless driving. Rodriguez was held on a $175,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven court on Wednesday, June 28.

Brown was charged with breach of peace in the second degree. Brown was later released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is also scheduled to appear in court on June 28.