Connecticut officer charged with assault after stun gunning accused beer thief
A Connecticut police officer is now facing charges stemming from his use of a stun gun during a robbery arrest earlier this month.
Naugatuck Officer Nicholas Kehoss, turned himself into State Police on Monday after they issued an arrest warrant. Kehoss was charged with third-degree assault and cruelty for the October 14 arrest of Jarrell Day, 33, following an alleged robbery at a Stop & Shop, according to police records.
According to Kehoss' arrest warrant, state police began investigating the incident after being made aware of body camera footage. The Naugatuck Police Department had referred the footage to the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office who then handed it over to state police for a criminal investigation.
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Use of force in body cam footage being reviewed
The footage shows Kehoss shocking Day with the stun gun three times following a foot chase. Police suspected Day of stealing $200 worth of beer from the store. He then allegedly rammed a police cruiser while attempting to flee then proceeded on foot.
Kehoss then chased Day and in the footage can be heard telling calling Day an "idiot" and telling him to "shut up" during the arrest.
“In our department, whenever there’s a use of force, it automatically triggers an internal review. That internal review process moves up the chain of command. Early on in that process, we identified several concerns with this use of force,” Naugatuck Police Chief Colin McAllister said, according to NBC Connecticut.
Kehoss fired the stun gun for the first time after telling Day to get on the ground. Day then falls to the ground. Kehoss orders him to get on his stomach. Day while pleading with and apologizing to the officer attempts to roll over. Kehoss continues to yell at him, and then fires the stun gun again.
The officer then orders Day to put his hands behind his back. Day then says "No, no, please," but Kehoss fires the stun gun for the third time.
The officer posted a $50,000 bail and is free pending a court appearance on Nov. 8.
The Naugatuck Police Department did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
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