NAUGATUCK POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA AP/OCT. 14
This symbol capture from the Naugatuck, Connecticut, police branch camera video, with portions of the video blurred through the source, shows Naugatuck officer Nicholas Kehoss pulling the cause of a stun gun for about five seconds straight while yelling a robbery. to “shut up” and call him an “idiot” before arresting him. Naugatuck Police Chief C. Colin McAllister said Monday, Oct. 30, that state police are investigating Kehoss’s use of force and that the branch is conducting an investigation into internal affairs. affairs.
A Connecticut police officer electrocuted a shoplifting suspect three times with a stun gun, adding when the guy on the floor was apologizing, according to police camera video released Monday as the government announced internal and criminal investigations.
In the video, Naugatuck Officer Nicholas Kehoss is seen pulling the stun gun cause for about five seconds each of the three times. Kehoss also yells at the man, tells him to “shut up” and calls him an “idiot” when arrested on Oct. 14, according to the video.
Police said the man, Jarell Day, 33, of Waterbury, was suspected of stealing $200 worth of beer in a robbery at a Naugatuck grocery store and then crashing police cars into a car while fleeing from officers. Day crashed the car and fled on foot, however, Kehoss defended him, according to the video.
Day shows his hands as Kehoss ordered him to get down on the ground and fired the stun gun for the first time, the video shows. Day falls to the ground and Kehoss orders him to lie on his stomach. Day turns on his side and tells the officer he’s sorry. and Kehoss continues to yell at him to get on his abdomen and pull the stun gun for a moment, the video shows.
Kehoss then ordered Day to put his hands behind his back, according to the video. Day pleaded, “No, no, please,” just before Kehoss dropped the case for the third time, when the officer warned him he was going to use the stun. gun again, the video shows.
Neither Day nor the officials were injured in the series.
Day charged with robbery, attempted assault on a police officer, dangerous driving and several other felonies. He remained in custody Monday. Online court records show he is represented through the Public Defender’s Office, where no one answered by phone until Monday afternoon.
Naugatuck Police Chief C. Colin McAllister said Monday that state police are investigating Kehoss’ use of force and that the branch is conducting an investigation into the matters.
“Since the beginning of this process, we have known various considerations about this use of force,” McAllister said.
Kehoss did not respond to emails seeking comment Monday. He is on paid leave pending investigations.
McAllister said Kehoss has a disciplinary history within the department, but did not elaborate. In 2021, Kehoss was found to have motives to fire three shots at a car when he crashed into his patrol car, which headed toward him and ran him over, when the driver tried to flee a stop. The bullets hit no one.
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