Arrests Made In Middletown Hatchet Vs. Gun Duel

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Police in Middletown Tuesday announced a pair of arrests in connection with a hatchet versus gun showdown on Elm Street in July.

The fight took place on July 27, police said.

At 10:30 p.m. that night, officers responded to the area of 17 Elm St. to investigate a reported shooting. They encountered 46-year-old Jerry Sweeney and had him transported to an area hospital with a gunshot wound for emergency surgery, according to an arrest report. At the scene, officers also encountered the accused shooter — 43-year-old Arnie Clark, according to an arrest report.

According to an arrest report, Middletown major crimes detectives determined that the confrontation began brewing earlier that night, when the two were jawing at each other on social media and then agreed to meet at Clark's residence for a fight. Sweeney showed up with a hatchet and Clark had a handgun, according to an arrest report.

Once at the Elm Street home, the two squared off for a fist fight, but things escalated and the weapons emerged, according to an arrest report.

Clark then shot Sweeney, according to an arrest report.

Warrants were eventually issued for their arrests, which were served Monday, police said.

Clark was charged with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a pistol, altering or removing identification markings on a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to police. He posted a $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 15, police said.

Sweeney was charged with second-degree threatening, third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace, police records show. He was initially held on a $75,000 bond, was arraigned in court Monday, and was released on a promise to appear in court on Oct. 7, judicial system records show.