A 26-year-old Rochester man has pleaded “not guilty” in City Court after a wild fight with police officers Wednesday night on Weyl Street over possession of a handgun. Two officers were treated for minor injuries, and are being hailed for averting something much worse by their actions.
Police say the officers were on routine patrol on Weyl Street, targeting an area that’s been a source of complaints from neighbors about drug activity. They spotted a group of people on the 200 block and asked them to show ID. Instead, a suspect identified as 26-year-old Treiquan Hawkins pulled out a loaded handgun. The officers wrestled with Hawkins for control of the gun, gaining control of the weapon and taking Hawkins into custody.
Hawkins has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing a police officer, assaulting a police officer, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest. He’s also been charged with unlawful use of marijuana.
Police also got a search warrant for a nearby vacant house where they found an additional loaded gun, a large amount of marijuana and several thousand dollars in cash. Police say more charges are likely as this part of the investigation continues.
Police Chief La’Ron Singletary tweets that he visited both officers who were not seriously injured.