Holyoke man beaten with gun; police track down suspects in Springfield and Sunderland

HOLYOKE — A pair of suspects accused of storming into a Holyoke apartment and assaulting a man with a firearm were tracked down days apart — one in Springfield, the other nearly 30 miles away in Sunderland.

Police used video footage and probation records to identify two suspects.

Desmond Wheeler, 29, who has no permanent address, was charged with home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and an outstanding arrest warrant, Holyoke police said. Jonathan Vergara, 28, of Springfield, faces the same charges and also had a warrant out for his arrest.

Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said Thursday that officers responded to a report of a gun incident around 5 p.m. on Oct. 14 near 690 Dwight St.

Officers found a man with head injuries. Keenan said the man knew the suspect, who forced his way into the apartment and hit him with a gun.

Keenan said detectives began investigating and reviewed video from the area. They spotted a second person who appeared to be working with the suspect in the home invasion. Police identified him as Vergara, Keenan said.

Vergara was on probation and had an active arrest warrant, police said. Detectives found him on Suffolk Street around 9:50 p.m. Oct. 15 and arrested him.

After Vergara was brought to the police station he was charged in connection with the home invasion, he said.

Detectives later identified Wheeler as the person who entered the apartment, according to Keenan. Heroin was stolen during the home invasion, police said.

Investigators got a warrant for Wheeler's arrest and at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 21, Sunderland police told Holyoke detectives where Wheeler might be, Keenan said.

Officers from both departments found him near 248 Amherst Road and arrested him. He was booked in Sunderland before being taken to the Holyoke Police Department.

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