Mauro Tropeano, 33, was arrested on Aug. 21 and charged with second-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, interfering with an officer and illegal distribution of drugs, the Ridgefield Press reported. The arrest stems from an incident in June, where police believe Tropeano fired at a group of teenagers trying to steal his car, hitting a 15-year-old girl in the back.
Related story: Ridgefield man accused of shooting teen car thief arrested
Police said that Tropeano denied firing any shots in the incident, but neighbors reported hearing gun shots during the time of the incident, according to the Ridgefield Press. The surveillance video of the incident does not show Tropeano firing a gun, but police said that a gun is visible in his waistband when he goes outside, the Ridgefield Press reported. He later goes inside, and when he comes back out the gun is gone, according to the Ridgefield Press.
When police searched Tropeano's home following the incident, they reportedly found seven pounds of marijuana, as well as thousands of dollars in cash, firearms and pills. The arrest warrant reports that Tropeano can be seen on video removing items from his car as he saw police arrive, the Ridgefield Press reported.
Related story: Shooting of 15-year-old leads police to drugs, cash, guns in Ridgefield home
In their arrest warrant, police claim that Tropeano initially did not submit to residue testing to see if he had fired his gun after the incident, according to the Ridgefield Press. It was several before he admitted that he had fired the gun, which he said was in his defense, the Ridgefield Press reported.
Click here to read the Ridgefield Press story.
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