A man who was believed to have retrieved two guns from a vehicle after a fight at a park in the Town of Groton Saturday caused hundreds of youth sports players and spectators to panic and has been arrested, according to police.
Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls about someone brandishing a gun at Poquonnock Plains Park around 1 p.m. At the time of the incident, there were several youth sporting events happening at the same time and there were several hundred spectators in attendance.
Other 911 calls reported gunshots were fired, police said. Officers from numerous departments including Groton City, Groton Long Point, Connecticut State Police, Ledyard, Stonington, Norwich, Mohegan Tribal, Mashantucket, New London, UConn, EnCon and Willimantic responded to the park.
According to investigators, two men were involved in a physical fight on the sidelines of one of the youth sports games. One of the men reportedly returned to his vehicle and retrieved what was believed by onlookers to be two guns. Police did not say what the items actually were.
Authorities said that caused panic throughout the crowd and sent hundreds of players and spectators fleeing from the park in all directions.
In a Facebook post early Saturday afternoon, police said they wanted to clarify reports they had seen on social media and emphasized that the disturbance was not an active shooter situation.
Multiple K9 teams, officers and firefighters searched for what was believed by onlookers to be guns, but could not find them. It was later determined that no shots were actually fired at the park.
The two men reportedly involved in the fight were found by police. The 43-year-old Massachusetts man and 30-year-old Bridgeport man have been taken into custody and each face multiple charges.
The two men are believed to be the only ones involved in the incident.
Residents and visitors are being asked to avoid the park at this time. If you witnessed the incident, you’re urged to contact police at (860) 441-6712.
