One of two men charged in a December incident in which shots were fired inside a Perry Street apartment building made his first appearance in the on Wednesday.
Matthew Caulfield, 26, of Fulmore Drive in Waterford, entered not guilty pleas to first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal use of a firearm, illegal discharge of a firearm, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to a report by Detective Richard E. Curcuro of the , police responded to reports of shots fired inside a multifamily residence at 4 Perry Street at about 11:10 p.m. on Dec. 15. Caulfield told police he had recently sold an eighth of an ounce of marijuana to a friend, who said he was going to give it to his cousin “Q,” who was later identified as 24-year-old Quadell Daniels of Garfield Ave. The friend said Daniels wanted to buy more marijuana and arranged a meeting at the Perry Street residence.
Caulfield said he had his .45-caliber handgun with him while he was bagging marijuana for Daniels, and that Daniels pointed a handgun at him when he turned his back. Caulfield said Daniels grabbed a bag of marijuana and fled the apartment after he drew his own weapon.
Caulfield said Daniels fired a shot at him as he was going down the stairs and that he fired a shot back at him. Caulfield’s roommate was also in the apartment at the time of the incident, but no one was injured. Police found that one of the bullets had traveled into a vacant apartment across the hall and into the gas stove there.
A police search found Caulfield’s weapon as well as ammunition, about two ounces of marijuana, scales, plastic bags, and drug paraphernalia. Curcuro said Caulfield had a valid pistol permit at the time of the incident, and that he told police he was an Army veteran who served in Iraq. Caulfield said he uses marijuana to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and that he sold marijuana to help support the habit.
Daniels was identified through cell phone records, and Caulfield and his friend also identified him via photograph. Daniels was .
Daniels has been charged with first-degree robbery, attempt to commit first-degree assault, criminal use of a weapon, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, and possession of marijuana. His case is currently in the , with the next scheduled court date of Feb. 14.
