08/08/2025
**PRESS RELEASE**
Date: August 8, 2025
To: All Media Outlets
From: Lieutenant Jeffry R. Thoelen, Bureau Commander of Operations
Subject: Middletown Police Make Arrest in Falsely Reported Accidental Fi****ms Discharge
Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the City of Middletown Police Department was contacted by the Town of Wallkill Police Department in reference to a reported armed robbery and shooting that had allegedly occurred on Phillips Street in the City of Middletown. The Town of Wallkill PD was alerted to the incident after a male gunshot victim arrived at Garnet Health Medical Center, with a bullet lodged in his lower leg. The victim, Terry Williamson, 39 of the Town of Deerpark, was interviewed by police and detectives from TWPD, and he reported that he was robbed at gunpoint while attempting to walk his dog in the area of 216 Phillips Street. Since that location was in the City of Middletown, the Town of Wallkill Police Department turned the investigation over to this agency.
Detectives from the Middletown Police Department responded to the hospital and interviewed Mr. Williamson. Mr. Williamson was found to have sustained a gunshot wound consistent with that of a .22 caliber weapon, but he was uncooperative and evasive in responding to inquiries regarding the incident. The Detectives then conducted a neighborhood canvass on Phillips Street, but were unable to locate any evidence or a potential crime scene. A check of surveillance cameras in the area revealed that Mr. Williamson was in fact present on Phillips Street on the evening of July 22, but indicated that he had made a delivery to a residence in that area and left, seemingly uninjured. The Detectives continued their investigation in an attempt to uncover more information.
While reviewing Mr. Williamson’s timeline of events, the Detectives learned that Mr. Williamson had driven to the Wendy’s restaurant located on Route 211 in the Town of Wallkill. The Detectives were able to obtain surveillance footage from outside the restaurant, which showed Mr. Williamson’s vehicle online at the drive thru at approximately 11:05 PM on Tuesday, July 22. While waiting in line at that location, a burst of light was observed inside of Mr. Williamson’s vehicle via the cameras, consistent with that of a muzzle flash from a firearm. Mr. Williamson’s vehicle then quickly departed the drive thru, without placing an order for food. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Williamson arrived at the Emergency Room at Garnet Health Medical Center, reporting his gunshot wound.
Based upon the information obtained by Middletown Police Detectives, and believing now that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted, a search warrant was obtained for Mr. Williamson's vehicle and his residence in the Town of Deerpark. On Thursday, August 7, 2025, Mr. Williamson was located by officers from the Town of Deerpark Police, traveling on a motorcycle on State Route 42. Town of Deerpark Police conducted a traffic stop with Mr. Williamson, and he was subsequently placed under arrest by Detectives from the Middletown Police Department. At the time of the vehicle stop, Mr. Williamson was found to be in possession of a loaded .22 revolver, which he was not legally allowed to possess due to his status as aconvicted felon on parole through the State of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Williamson has been charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony. Mr. Williamson’s arrest resulted in a violation of his Pennsylvania state parole stipulations, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. Mr. Williamson will therefore face additional charges as a Fugitive from Justice, and be extradited to the State of Pennsylvania to be arraigned on that warrant.
The City of Middletown Police Department wishes to extend our thanks to the Town of Wallkill Police Department and the Town of Deepark Police Department for their assistance in working through this case. Chief Ewanciw stated, “Mr. Williamson possessed an illegal firearm, which he mishandled and subsequently shot himself with in the Town of Wallkill. Instead of taking responsibility for his careless and reckless actions, he proceeded to construct a fake story, claiming that he was robbed in the City of Middletown. This lie resulted in an extensive investigation, with our detectives devoting hours of manpower into developing a timeline and tracing Mr. Williamson’s actions on the night of the incident. The persistence and diligence of Detectives Kris Bailey and Evan Barone in pursuing the truth resulted in a dangerous criminal with an illegal firearm being taken off of our streets. I commend Detectives Bailey, Barone and all of the members of the Detective Division and Narcotics Unit for their outstanding work in this case.”
