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At approximately 6:53 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, calls flooded into the local police station, reporting shots at the intersection of Liberty Street and Wickham Avenue, said Middletown Police Lt. Jeffrey Thoelen.
Responding swiftly, Middletown Police officers arrived on the scene to discover a lone shell casing in front of 33 Wickham Ave. They quickly cordoned off the area to ensure public safety.
As the morning unfolded, police officers and detectives meticulously combed through the neighborhood, but it soon became clear that the gunfire had neither injured anyone nor damaged any property.
Thoelen said near the YMCA Center for Youth Programs on Liberty Street, officers spoke with two men who claimed they were targets of the shooting. The men, however, could not offer a clear description of the shooter, who had fled the scene, leaving police with scant details to go on.
Thoelen said that determined to solve the case, the Middletown Police Department’s Detective Division took over, piecing together clues from surveillance videos and eyewitness accounts.
Their investigation led them to Dylan J. Saldana, an 18-year-old Middletown resident. Saldana was arrested and faced serious charges: criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
A subsequent search warrant executed at his Maryland Avenue residence turned up a loaded 9mm handgun, adding weight to the charges against him.
Now in custody, Saldana awaits his court date. He is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Middletown City Court.
Meanwhile, the police have stated they are not looking for additional suspects, though their investigation is ongoing. They encourage anyone with more information to come forward and assure confidentiality to all who reach out at 845-343-3151.
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