POUGHKEEPSIE – At least five gunshots just before 11 a.m.Tuesday in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie City Hall caused city court to go into lockdown while numerous police agencies responded to the Mobil gas station across from City Hall where the shots were believed to have been fired. First arriving officers detained one man who was standing in the parking lot of the gas station and took him to police headquarters for questioning.
State Senator Rob Rolison had just exited Morse Elementary School a block away and heard the five gunshots. The police department’s gunshot locating system also recorded the incident.
Several sources have told Mid-Hudson News that the gunfire was the result of an incident that took place earlier Tuesday in city court.
Police then noticed a sedan parked next to the gas station with one occupant. Several verbal commands to exit the vehicle were ignored by the man. With several officers from multiple agencies nearby, the subject was observed moving from the driver seat to the passenger seat. When he exited the vehicle, he was detained. A handgun under the front passenger seat was located by city cops. The man was taken into custody.
Witnesses told police that a red sedan had been involved and was seen traveling east on Mansion Street. Deputies from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle matching the description on Smith Street and detained three to four occupants for questioning.
No injuries have been reported and police were still processing the scene at noon and the intersection of Mansion and Washington Streets remained closed.
