Press Release from East Haven Police Department

Two people were taken into custody by the East Haven Police Department following an altercation at an East Haven bar that led to the unlawful discharge of a firearm inside the bar.

On March 10, at approximately 1:39 a.m., Officer Joseph DiNatale, who was on a routine bar-closing detail on Main Street, notified dispatch after hearing several gunshots ring out at Rumba Cafe at 679 Main Street in East Haven. Officers arriving on scene observed a large crowd dispersing from the bar and were met with multiple active fights taking place inside the establishment. The gunshots were determined to have been fired in the rear of the building into the ceiling. No victims were located on scene.

Officers quickly developed two suspects involved and detained them while they worked to determine what had transpired. The two suspects involved in the altercation were identified as Edwin Colon-Perez, 23, of New Haven; and Jose Rodriguez-Diaz, 25, of New Haven.

K9 Officer Donato Palma and his partner K9 Enzo arrived on scene and conducted an evidentiary track that produced two firearms, which were located hidden under a trash can on an adjoining property. The located firearms were seized by East Haven police detectives, who quickly determined that both firearms had been reported stolen out of state.

Colon-Perez was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, carrying a pistol without a permit, breach of peace in the second degree, and possession of a controlled substance (second offense). Colon-Perez was held on a $50,000 and is scheduled to appear in New Haven court on Wednesday, March 20.

Rodriguez-Diaz was charged with breach of peace in the second degree and interfering with an officer. Rodriguez-Diaz was held on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven court on Wednesday, March 20.

This investigation remains open, as additional charges are expected. Anyone with information regarding the events that led up to this altercation is asked to contact detectives at 203-468-3820.

In the aftermath of this event, and as a result of a Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Liquor Control police referral, the EHPD announced that Rumba Cafe’s liquor permit has been indefinitely suspended pending a hearing with the DCP Liquor Control Commission. The suspension prohibits Rumba Cafe from operating its business in any capacity until a resolution is reached at the state level.