A man has been arrested after menacing a victim with a screwdriver, prompting a large police response at an apartment complex in Orange County, authorities said.
Multiple agencies, including Town of Wallkill Police, New York State Police, and Orange County Sheriff’s deputies, responded Monday evening, April 13, to a multi-family home at 327 East Main St. in Wallkill after a reported disturbance involving a possible weapon, Town of Wallkill Police said in an update on Tuesday afternoon, April 14.
Initial information based on an alleged victim’s account described a tense scene involving a man allegedly being confronted in a parking lot and threatened with what appeared to be a gun, sparking a large-scale response and search. At the time, those details had not been confirmed by authorities.
According to police, officers responded to the location around 5 p.m. for a reported disturbance and determined that during the dispute, the suspect displayed what appeared to be an orange-handled object toward the victim before fleeing the scene.
Following an investigation, police searched the suspect’s residence and recovered an orange-handled screwdriver, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as Rafael Horacio Arias, 40, of the Town of Wallkill, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing, attempted criminal mischief, and second-degree harassment.
Arias was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Town of Wallkill Court at a later date.
Police did not indicate that a firearm was involved, and no injuries were reported.
Authorities were helped at the scene by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, City of Middletown Police Department, and New York State Police.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
