Ansonia Police name person of interest in Wednesday shooting

ANSONIA - An Ansonia police officer on patrol in the Fourth Street area Wednesday reported shots fired at about 1:50 p.m. 

The officer was part of an increased patrol in response to shots fired incidents the previous week, Lt. Patrick Lynch said in a written release late Wednesday. 

The officer was on Liberty Street near Fourth Street about 150 feet from where the shooting took place. A male all in black clothing was seen running from the area of the shots fired and attempted to elude officers in the area before he was detained on Star Street. 

The male was identified as Jermaine Smalls, 20, of Ansonia. 

During the course of the investigation, the area where Smalls ran was checked with the assistance of the Seymour Police Department K-9 team. A handgun was located along with clothing Smalls had been wearing.

Shortly after the shots fired, Griffin Hospital reported they had a male shooting victim at their emergency room. The male, a 32 year-old Bridgeport resident, was shot multiple times in the upper body; he was transferred to another area hospital for treatment. The male is currently in critical condition. 

Smalls is a person of interest in the shooting investigation.

 

Smalls was arrested and during a search was found to be in possession of a small amount of crack cocaine, Lynch said. Smalls was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, tampering with evidence, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1500 feet of a school and interfering with an officer. Smalls was held on a $500,000 bond and will be arraigned today at Derby Superior Court.

Smalls was also a subject of shooting investigation by the New York City Police Department. 

Members of the NYPD were working with Ansonia Police detectives and obtained a warrant for Smalls charging him with attempted murder second degree, assault first degree and attempted assault first degree. 

Based on NYPD’s warrant, Smalls was additionally charged with being a fugitive from justice; he was held on an additional $750,000.00 bond and will be arraigned today at Derby Superior Court.

Members of the Derby and Seymour Police Departments along with the State’s Attorney Office in Milford assisted with the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the police department at 203-735-1885 or anonymous tips can be left at Tip411 at the link below.

https://www.tip411.com/tips/new?alert_group_id=21553

This is a press release from Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch.