New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Police officer arrested after altercation at restaurant
An Old Saybrook police officer is facing a breach of peace charge after he allegedly choked a man in a restaurant while off-duty, as the town’s police chief remains silent about what, if any, disciplinary action may result.
On Feb. 27, Tyler Schulz shoved a man into a shuffleboard table at Scotch Plains Tavern in Essex and grabbed the neck of a second man who tried to intervene, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in state Superior Court in Middletown. State police investigated the case.
The warrant cites interviews with witnesses as well as surveillance footage, which reportedly shows Schulz pushing the first man. One witness said Schulz only stopped choking the second man because “about six people” pulled him away, according to the affidavit, which describes photographs of red marks on the man’s neck.
Police Chie Michael Spera did not respond to an inquiry about whether the department had disciplined Schulz in connection with the arrest. Schulz, who did not return requests for comment, still was listed on the department’s online roster Tuesday.
Schulz is charged with one count of second-degree breach of peace, a Class B misdemeanor. If convicted, he faces up to six months in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000.
Both alleged victims in the restaurant incident said they did not want to press charges, according to the warrant affidavit, which states “persons involved in this incident relayed to (the investigating officer) their hesitation with pursuing additional charges against Schulz due to the potential for retaliation.”
Though the case is closed, Schulz’s charges could be altered at the judicial level, a spokesperson for Connecticut State Police said via email.
“At this time the case has a status of closed by arrest,” Sgt. Dawn Pagan wrote. “However, should new information be developed that warrants an investigation or further investigation that would be handled accordingly.”
Alfred Wilcox, chairman of the Old Saybrook police commission, said he did not know the status of any internal investigation stemming from Schulz’s arrest but planned to inquire about the matter during a Tuesday meeting with Spera.
“I would hope that (Schulz) is on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation,” Wilcox said.
If any disciplinary recommendation were to go beyond a 10-day suspension, Wilcox said, the matter would go before the commission for approval. He was reserving judgment so as not to disqualify himself from sitting in on a potential hearing, he said.
The alleged Scotch Plains Tavern incident reportedly stemmed from a prior dispute between Schulz and the man he allegedly shoved, according to the warrant affidavit, which refers to the man as “the Victim.”
That man told police he had known Schulz for years, according to the affidavit; the two had seen each other regularly until about a month before the alleged fight, when Schulz called the man’s fiancee derogatory names, per the affidavit.
“The Victim advised that the behavior was unprovoked and the latest in a series of disturbing behavioral changes since Schulz’s divorce,” it says.
The alleged victim was at the Scotch Plains Tavern with a group of about 10 people, according to the affidavit, which says he told investigators he did not know Schulz would be at the restaurant. He also said he did not interact with Schulz until the end of the night, the warrant says.
Both the alleged victim and his fiancee, who also was present, said Schulz appeared intoxicated when he approached them, the affidavit said. “The Victim” reported telling Schulz he did not wish to speak with him, it says.
Schulz then shoved “the Victim” and reportedly grabbed the neck of a second man who tried to intervene, per the affidavit, which describes the second man as someone who also knew Schulz.
Asked about what occurred, “Schulz stated that others from the group at the Scotch Plains Tavern had been picking fights and that ‘nice guys finish last,’” according to the affidavit. It notes surveillance footage did not show any interaction between Schulz and the group prior to the altercation.
According to the state court database, Schulz’s next court date is set for April 22.
Schulz also was a codefendant in a 2020 lawsuit alleging he let his police dog bite a woman while she was pinned to the floor by another officer. The town settled that case for $190,000 in an agreement that did not admit wrongdoing.
No known criminal charges were brought in connection with the dog bite case.