NAUGATUCK, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut police officer who shocked a shoplifting suspect 3 times with a stun gun, together with when the person was on the bottom apologizing, has been charged with third-degree assault and cruelty.
Naugatuck Officer Nicholas Kehoss turned himself in to state police on Monday after an arrest warrant was issued, state police mentioned Tuesday. He’s free after posting a $50,000 bond and is due in court docket on Nov. 8.
Kehoss didn’t return emails Monday or Tuesday in search of remark.
The officer grew to become the topic of an investigation after a physique digital camera video confirmed him chasing Jarell Day, 33, of Waterbury, right into a subject on Oct. 14 and surprising him 3 times with a stun gun, together with when the person was on the bottom apologizing.
The video, launched Monday additionally reveals Kehoss telling Day to “shut up” and calling him an “fool” throughout the arrest.
Police mentioned Day was suspected of stealing $200 price of beer in a theft at a Naugatuck grocery retailer and later rammed police cruisers with a automotive as he fled from officers. Day crashed the automotive and fled on foot, however Kehoss caught as much as him, in accordance with the video.
Day was displaying his arms when Kehoss ordered him to get on the bottom and first fired the stun gun, the video reveals. Day falls to the bottom and Kehoss orders him to get on his abdomen. Day rolls onto his aspect and tells the officer he’s sorry, and Kehoss continues to yell at him to get onto his abdomen and pulls the stun gun set off a second time, the video reveals.
Kehoss then orders Day to place his arms behind his again, in accordance with the video. Day pleads, “No, no, please,” simply earlier than Kehoss pulls the set off a 3rd time, because the officer warns him that he’s going to make use of the stun gun once more, the video reveals.
Neither Day nor officers have been injured within the collection of occasions.
Day stays in custody on costs from a number of instances, together with theft, tried assault of a police officer and reckless driving.
Kehoss is on paid depart pending the investigations.