The Attorney General’s Office announced that Rutland City Police Sergeant Andrew Plemmons, 45, was arraigned on Friday, Nov. 1, on one felony count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and one misdemeanor count of Reckless Endangerment.
A patrol sergeant, Plemmons has worked for the Rutland City Police Dept. since November 2014.
The charges are the result of Attorney General Charity Clark’s review of the state police’s investigation into an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on July 3, 2023, at Giorgetti Park in Rutland City, during which Sgt. 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.
After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances in this matter, which were consistent with Vermont law, the Attorney General’s Office concluded that Sgt. Plemmons was not justified in his use of deadly force against Andy Perez.
In this review, Windsor County State’s Attorney Ward Goodenough, acting as conflict counsel for the Rutland County State’s Attorney, concurred with filing criminal charges for Sgt. Plemmons’ actions during the incident.
The incident occurred when Plemmons and fellow Rutland City officer James Rajda saw a suspicious vehicle parked near the Giorgetti Athletic Complex along Oak Street Extension shortly before 8:30 p.m. on July 3, 2023, and initiated an investigation. The Perez-Coiscou brothers were the occupants of the car.
During the interaction with the 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.
As a result of the initial investigation, Randy Perez-Coiscou was arrested on two charges of felony aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and Andy Perez-Coiscou received a citation on a charge of possession of fentanyl.
Sgt. Plemmons pleaded not guilty at the arraignment on Friday, Nov.1, in Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Cortland Corsones presiding, ordered a condition of release that requires him to have no contact with Mr. Perez.
The Attorney General emphasizes that individuals charged with a crime are legally presumed innocent until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
