ICYMI: Two Felons Arrested in Westport After a Report of Shots Fired

Editor’s note: This article was originally published earlier this week on Patch. We’re republishing it here in case you missed it:

After a report that shots were fired near the northern end of Lexington Avenue in South Norwalk, police received information about a car that two suspects were in, and that led to the arrest of two men, Norwalk police say.

Norwalk police gave this account of the incident (an accusation not proven in court), in which they received help from Westport police:

At 5:22 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of shots fired in the northern part of Lexington Avenue. No victims were found in the area, but police were given a description of the vehicle two suspects were in, and its license plate number, as well.

Norwalk police broadcast the information to area police departments, and Westport police soon reported seeing the vehicle traveling east on Interstate 95. Westport police stopped the vehicle near Exit 19 and detained two men inside it. A pistol was also found when the vehicle was searched.

The two occupants — Derrick McCoy, 26, of 13 Third St. in Norwalk and Jermaine Smalls, also 26, of 349 Noble Ave., Bridgeport — were arrested and taken back to Norwalk Police headquarters.

Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik praised the work of the patrol officers who initially responded to the report, the community for providing information that led to the arrests, and Westport police for their help.

Each of the men was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, illegally carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit and conspiracy to commit those crimes. Each man was held on $250,000 bond.

Kulhawik called the two men dangerous felons, according to a news release from the department. On Nov. 6, 2008, McCoy was convicted of a felony — conspiracy to commit second-degree assault with the intent of physical injury — on June 13 of that year, according to the Connecticut Judicial Branch Website. He was later convicted, on March 26, 2012, of violating his probation, and he was sent back to prison for two years.

Jermaine Smalls was convicted in 2009 of two felonies: drug possession with intent to sell and carrying a pistol without a permit. In May 2013, he was convicted on a charge of violating probation, and in July 2013 he was convicted on a charge of carrying a pistol without a permit, and his probation was terminated.

Pictures: Norwalk police arrest photos of Jermaine Smalls (first picture) and Derrick McCoy (second picture).