Police: Investigation complete into Stamford officers’ clash with protesters

STAMFORD — Stamford police have completed an internal affairs investigation into the conduct of officers who were involved in an altercation with protesters following a demonstration in August, officials said Friday.

The results of the investigation will be presented to the Stamford Police Commission at its next meeting scheduled for January 4.

Along with the announcement, the city of Stamford on Friday afternoon released 71 videos from body cameras worn by officers during the Aug. 8 protest march and its aftermath, when police clashed with some of the demonstrators on Broad Street in front of the Target store.

The march was held to protest the death of Stamford resident Steven Barrier, who died in police custody on Oct. 23, 2019.

Police Chief Tim Shaw on Friday aid he would not discuss what his recommendation will be to the commission until he makes his presentation in early January.

The videos follow marchers from Home Depot, near where Barrier was taken into custody after running from police following a domestic incident at his home, to Stamford Police Headquarters.

The videos then continue to follow the demonstrators back down Bedford Street and west on Broad Street. Several of the body-camera videos show the confusion of the moment in front of Target as police and protesters confront each other, with both sides shouting.

Shaw at the time of the incident said the demonstrators were at fault for instigating a confrontation and refusing to abide by guidelines that had been used at other peaceful demonstrations in the city this summer. Nine officers were treated for injuries at Stamford Hospital and one required surgery. Five people were criminally charged out of a few dozen people participating in the march.

One person was charged by police with inciting to riot, a misdemeanor, and the others were cited with breach of peace and interfering with police.

Protesters at the time, several of whom also were injured, said the police were at fault, and the aggressors in the incident. Efforts to get comment from members of their group were unsuccessful Friday.

“If there was any inappropriate behavior by our officers, they will be held accountable,” Shaw said at the time. “The same will hold true for the marchers. I also hope the protesters who intentionally acted as agitators today will be held accountable by their peers. Stamford is our home and although many of these conversations are difficult, it is no excuse to cause division in our community.”

Jere Eaton, former Stamford NAACP president who owns a printing and embroidery shop, said she was asked by a police officer to be a peace keeper as the protest left the police department and proceeded down Bedford Street to Broad Street. She followed the protesters, at times creating a buffer between police and the protesters.

Eaton, 59, was pushed to the street in the melee that ensued, causing back, shoulder and knee injuries, she said.

She said she was pushed down by a police officer, who she believes meant to run into her. Police have disputed that account.

Eaten said some of the officers acted well, others did not.

“I was disappointed in both sides,” she said Friday afternoon. “I thought the police could have deescalated that situation so easily. For the protesters, my question was, ‘What was their goal?’ They were using the ‘F’ word constantly. If you want justice you don’t just curse people out and call them names. I was disgusted.”

Eaton said she was asked to be interviewed as part of the internal affairs investigation but did not participate, saying she did not trust the investigators.

In August the police commission said it would hold an independent investigation into the protest.