Incident on Jepson Lane – Newport this week

On June 11, 2024, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Middletown Police Department responded to 627 Jepson Lane in an attempt to locate Richard Perez, 36, who was wanted on a domestic warrant. Before arriving at his apartment, officers received information that Mr. Perez may be suffering from a mental health crisis and may be under the influence of drugs. When officers arrived on scene, they made contact with Mr. Perez, who immediately became uncooperative and began behaving erratically. He did not want to approach the door and only spoke to officers through the open window. While officers tried to talk to him, he stated that he had a gun he wanted to use and that he did not intend to surrender peacefully. Mr. Perez also mentioned possessing explosive devices.

The officers then withdrew from the house and set up a perimeter. Out of an abundance of caution, the Newport County Regional Special Response Team (NCRSRT) was activated. Once the team arrived at the scene, negotiators managed to make contact with Mr. Perez and convince him to leave the house peacefully. After leaving the home, Mr. Perez was arrested and taken to the Middletown Police Station, where he was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer in the execution of duty.