ENFIELD — A drug-fueled argument at a condominium complex last week led to assault charges against a 51-year-old White River Junction man who surrendered to police, but not before authorities evacuated an adjacent condo unit out of concern about the presence of firearms.
Nearly a dozen officers responded to a report of an assault just before 5 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the Lakeview condominium community on Turner Place, Enfield Police Chief Roy Holland said Monday.
Ultimately, Lawrence Collins was arrested and charged with three counts of simple assault.
Collins arrived during the night to Unit 323 at 5 Turner Place, where two alleged victims reside, according to police. Also present was another male visitor. Turner Place is off Route 4A, near the southern tip of Mascoma Lake.
The male visitor and one of the women told police that the group had been using cocaine throughout the night, according to the probable cause affidavit in the case.
One of the women told police she woke up to Collins poking her in the legs, and they started to argue, the affidavit said. Collins verbally assaulted her, threw a lit cigarette at her face and then struck her and the other woman in the face with his hand, the affidavit said.
The officer noticed that one of the women “did have blood on her face in the nose area,” the affidavit said.
One of the women and the male visitor fled the residence and contacted the police, while the other woman and Collins remained inside, police said.
The woman who left the residence told police that she saw Collins strike the woman who remained, the affidavit said. She also said that earlier she had reached into Collins’ jacket pocket to get a lighter and found a pistol.
Enfield police were assisted by officers from Lebanon and Canaan, and 11 officers in total responded to a report of fight in progress, Holland said.
Due to the possible presence of a firearm, the adjacent condo was evacuated around 6 a.m.
“I didn’t want an innocent bystander to be a part of collateral damage,” Holland said.
Collins and the woman remaining in the residence complied with an order to exit the condo, according to the affidavit. Collins was detained and subsequently arrested.
No firearm was found on Collins’ person when searched nor inside the unit.
Police found evidence of crack cocaine use, the affidavit said. Collins had a previous felony conviction for distribution of narcotics.
Holland said he believes that drugs and/or alcohol were a contributing factor in the incident.
Michael Moore, president of the development’s home owners association, woke up at 6:30 a.m. to the sound of dogs barking and saw multiple police officers outside, he said Friday by phone.
Moore said that there had been complaints by neighbors regarding dog barking at Unit 323, and multiple fines were issued as a result. He added that after the situation with the police, he sent out a bulletin about the disturbance to other residents.
Collins’ three assault charges were for allegedly striking the two women, and throwing the cigarette at one of them. He was arraigned in Lebanon Circuit Court on Jan. 21 and released the next day.
Jim Rock, owner of Unit 323, said Monday by phone that he had been unaware of drug use at the condo. He also said he did not have enough evidence to initiate an eviction and that even if he did, the process would be drawn out beyond the end of the lease agreement, which is next month.
He said he does not intend to rent out the unit in the near future.
“I’m going to give it a rest. I just feel like it would be the best thing to do for the community there,” said Rock.
Collins’ trial date is currently set for April 20.
