Inspector General investigating CT officer who fired gun during chase then tried to say it was Taser
The Connecticut Office of Inspector General is investigating after a Windsor police officer shot at a suspect he was chasing through a park during what appeared to be a situation where the policeman mistakenly grabbed his firearm instead of his taser.
The incident began unfolding on Jan. 30 shortly after 8:20 p.m. when Officer Brandon Thomas of the Windsor Police Department spotted a 'suspicious vehicle' that was unoccupied in the parking lot of the Tiger Mart gas station at 160 Windsor Ave., according to the Office of the Inspector General. The 2008 Jeep Liberty Sport had a license plate that came back to another vehicle.
According to Inspector General Robert Devlin, Jr., Thomas saw two people leave the convenience mart and walk toward the Liberty. As they did, he approached the individuals and asked about the misused license plate.
'This plate don't match, man,' Thomas says in body camera footage released from the incident.
'Hold on, hold on,' Thomas says. 'Where you going? Hold on, hold on.'
One of the individuals, later identified as 21-year-old Geovanni Nunez, immediately took off running, according to Devlin.
Thomas radioed in that an individual took off from him on foot as he chased him across Windsor Avenue and into the entrance of Keney Park.
During the chase, Thomas told Nunez to stop running 'or I'm gonna (expletive) tase you,' the footage shows. He can then be seen aiming his firearm toward Nunez before firing a single gunshot. Nunez was not struck by gunfire, Devlin said.
Thomas slows down moments after the shot was fired, at which point he can be heard saying, 'Oh, (expletive), I did not mean to do that,' the footage shows.
The first of two body camera clips Devlin released ends with Thomas taking his Taser out and deploying it.
According to Devlin, Thomas fell into a stream while apprehending Nunez and his body camera was doused in water. Investigators were still able to recover the footage.
After Nunez was apprehended, he could be heard telling Thomas and another officer that he was shot at.
'Bro, you shot at me…,' Nunez says, the footage shows.
The other officer then tells Nunez, 'No, he didn't shoot a gun at you.'
Thomas can then be heard saying 'right here, this,' while holding up his Taser.
'He shot a gun at me,' Nunez then maintains.
'No, I didn't,' Thomas can be heard saying.
'I heard a gun,' Nunez says, the footage shows.
'That wasn't me, bro,' Thomas replies, according to the footage.
'I know the difference between a gun and a Taser,' Nunez says before the clip ends.
According to Devlin, Nunez was arrested on charges of interfering with police and possession of a controlled substance. A spokesperson for the Windsor Police Department said Nunez was released on a non-surety bond and turned over the Meriden Police Department, who held a warrant for his arrest on one count of first-degree assault.
The shooting is being investigated by Devlin's office with the assistance of the Windsor Police Department.
According to Windsor police, Thomas is on 'limited duty status' pending the outcome of the investigation.
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