NEW PORT RICHEY - A 26-year-old man was arrested on armed robbery and aggravated battery charges Sunday after police responded to a report of shots fired at apartments at 6440 Main St.
When New Port Richey police officers arrived about 1:24 a.m., they saw a white Dodge Neon driving on Montana Avenue with its headlights off. The car was stopped and the driver gave consent for an officer to search inside, according to an incident report. Inside, the officer found a .22-caliber bullet and a magazine clip with two more bullets.
Witnesses said a passenger in the Neon, identified as Jerried M. Curtis, pointed a rifle at three men, demanded money and hit one of them in the nose with the butt of the rifle. The blow broke the man's nose, the report said.
The injured man said Curtis fired the rifle once in the direction he was walking and once in the opposite direction. The man also said his wallet, which contained $25, was missing.
Police found a loaded .22-caliber rifle on Montana Avenue at Congress Street. The driver of the Neon, Chris Fink, told police that the rifle belonged to Curtis, according to the report. Fink said after he heard a gunshot, Curtis got in the car and told him to shut off the lights and drive off quickly.
Curtis of 2716 Capricorn Place, Holiday, was held without bond in the county jail Monday.
