By Guy Page
Almost 16 months after a police-involved shooting Attorney General Charity Clark’s office is charging a Rutland police sergeant for firing his gun during a confrontation with two uncooperative out of state brothers as part of a drug investigation.
Following review of an investigation by the Vermont State Police, the Attorney General’s Office on Thursday, Oct. 31, directed VSP to cite Rutland City Police Department Sgt. Andrew Plemmons in connection with a shooting that occurred in the city in July 2023.
Plemmons is due to appear for arraignment Friday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment. The hearing is expected to occur at 12:30 p.m. in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Rutland.
The charges arise from an incident that occurred July 3, 2023, during which Plemmons shot and wounded two 21-year-old brothers from Springfield, Massachusetts, identified as Randy A. Perez-Coiscou and Andy H. Perez-Coiscou. They have since recovered from their injuries.
The incident occurred when Plemmons and K-9 Officer James Rajda saw a suspicious vehicle parked near the Giorgetti Athletic Complex along Oak Street Extension shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, and initiated an investigation. The Perez-Coiscou brothers were the occupants of the car.
During the interaction with police, the car began to move, and Sgt. Plemmons fired his handgun. The car eventually crashed at the end of Oak Street Extension. Rajda received a minor injury to one of his arms during the encounter. A July 5 statement said Vermont State Police had not recovered any weapons connected to the suspects.
As a result of the investigation, Randy Perez-Coiscou was arrested on two charges of felony aggravated assault on a law-enforcement officer. He was turned over to the custody of the Vermont Department of Corrections while remaining hospitalized. He was arraigned by video Wednesday, July 5, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Rutland, pleaded not guilty, and was ordered jailed for lack of $10,000 bail.
Andy Perez-Coiscou received a citation on a charge of possession of fentanyl.
Plemmons, a patrol sergeant, has worked for the Rutland City Police Department since November 2014. Rajda is a patrol K9 officer and has worked for the department since September 2018.