New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Cops get search warrant for car
Probe continues into police-involved shooting
NEW HAVEN — Authorities Monday obtained a search warrant for the car in which a woman who was shot by police last week was riding with her boyfriend, according to the chief state’s attorney’s office.
“In the search warrant, State Police Major Crime detectives attest that a search and examination of the vehicle will aid in the discovery of evidence that will further assist their ongoing investigation. State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin has additionally authorized the release of body camera footage, which will be available this week,” the release from the state Division of Criminal Justice.
Further, the body camera worn by a Yale police officer did not capture the entirety of the April 16 police shooting near Dixwell Avenue, according to a pastor who has
been actively involved in talking to law enforcement agencies and the public in the aftermath of the shooting.
As local residents wait to see body camera footage from the April 16 police shooting near Dixwell Avenue, clergy met Monday with Griffin to keep abreast of the ongoing investigation.
The Rev. Boise Kimber also said Griffin indicated that body camera footage from the incident would be released later this week, as was announced by Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James Rovella Friday.
However, the body camera worn by Yale officer Terrence Pollock did not capture the entire incident, Kimber said Monday. Rather, it was turned on partway through, he said.
In his announcement, Rovella said Hamden police had turned camera footage over to state police last Thursday. Officer Devin
Eaton was the Hamden officer involved in the shooting.
Rovella said Tuesday that state police will release an authoritative copy of the video from the shooting and provide more information about their investigation either Tuesday or Wednesday.
“We’re waiting on one last piece of information that I expect to have either later on today or early tomorrow,” Rovella said Monday. “We’d like to show our public exactly what is going on.”
Kimber said he and his fellow pastors are striving to represent the family of Stephanie Washington, 22, who was shot by police, and keep the investigation honest.
Local residents have held rallies in the wake of the shooting as they wait for answers and call for justice,
Kimber said he had confidence in Griffin’s ability to pursue the case, responding to mayoral candidate Justin Elicker, who called for the matter to be turned over to another prosecutor last week.
Elicker argued that, as Griffin’s office works closely with New Haven police on a regular basis, it has an inappropriate conflict of interest. New Haven police were not involved in the incident, according to city officials. Eaton was a New Haven police officer before taking a job with Hamden police.
“There are people who are trying to use this opportunity for their own self-aggrandizement in the political arena – some of those who are running for office in this city,” said Kimber. “We will not allow that to take place.”
A call seeking comment was placed to Elicker.
“The family should know that we’re out here, working on their behalf, and trying to keep people honest about what took place — and that we’re being a voice for this community, and a voice of justice,” said Kimber. “We are so grateful that these two individuals were not killed in this process. And we’re prayerful for their families, and prayerful for them. We will continue to follow this case, walk with them in process, until justice is served.”
Kimber said he and the other pastors planned to attend Monday’s meeting of the Hamden Legislative Council to discuss the shooting and its aftermath. The council is set to consider the Police Department’s budget for next year.
Hamden Acting Police Chief John Cappiello said Friday the department would create a written policy about notifying New Haven police when officers cross the line into the city. New Haven police were not notified in this instance.
Officers Eaton and Pollock stopped a vehicle Paul Witherspoon III, 21, and Stephanie Washington, 22, were in, near Dixwell Avenue and Argyle Street last Tuesday.
Witherspoon was suspected of committing an alleged armed robbery in Hamden. After the incident, police have not said he had a weapon, nor have they reported finding a weapon in his vehicle.
Trooper Josue Dorelus said the officers fired after Witherspoon exited the vehicle “abruptly” and turned toward them. He is not seen exiting the vehicle in surveillance footage that has become public after the incident.
Rodney Williams, Witherspoon’s uncle, said Monday that his nephew had been “traumatized” by the event. Attorney Michael Dolan, representing Witherspoon, is likely to issue a notice announcing plans to file suit in the coming days, he said.
Dolan did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.
Williams questioned whether the pastors at Monday’s news conference showed appropriate concern for his family — just one had come by and offered to pray with the family, he said. He spoke with some of the pastors after the news conference concluded.
He also said that police departments should have better technology for capturing video footage of incidents and releasing it more quickly.
“At the end of the day, (the status quo) doesn’t help us, it hurts us,” said Williams.