Post by WaTcHeR on May 12, 2006 12:33:40 GMT -5
05/12/2006 - EAST WINDSOR - A police officer was arrested Wednesday after accidentally injuring another officer with a Taser at the start of their shift earlier this week.
The officer, John A. Scavotto, 44, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. He was released on a $2,500 nonsurety bond and is scheduled to appear in Enfield Superior Court today.
The charges, both misdemeanors, carry the combined maximum penalty of two years in prison and $2,000 in fines.
A Taser is a device used by police officers that delivers a high-voltage charge to immobilize a suspect.
"This is an isolated incident and no way reflects the hard working men and women of this police department," Police
Chief Edward J. DeMarco Jr. said Wednesday.
Scavotto, an 18-year veteran of the department, was placed on paid administrative leave Monday in the aftermath of the incident, which occurred about 4:16 p.m. that day.
An officer sustained injuries to the head and neck after Scavotto discharged one of the department's four Tasers. The officer was treated and released from Hartford Hospital, police said.
The Taser was "negligently and recklessly discharged," which is in "direct opposition" to the department's training and established procedures, DeMarco said.
Declining to identify the injured officer, DeMarco did say he is in his early 30s and has been with department for four years. DeMarco said that he wanted to provide the officer with time to talk to his family and doctors.
Roll call for the 4 p.m. to midnight shift had just ended when the incident occurred, DeMarco said, adding that there was another officer in the room when the Taser was discharged. The shift supervisor had just exited the room, DeMarco said.
The officer's inner left cheek was damaged by one of the darts discharged by the Taser, Sgt. Michael Hannaford said today.
The injured officer is tentatively scheduled to return to work on Monday, pending approval from his doctors, DeMarco said.
In addition to the criminal investigation that culminated with Scavotto's arrest, police are also conducting an internal affairs investigation, which DeMarco expects to be completed by the end of the week.
The findings will be discussed at a special meeting of the Police Commission scheduled for May 24.
With the temporary loss of these two officers and with two other officers absent from the force - one is on medical leave while the other is on paid administrative leave - the department is down to 10 officers for a town of 10,000 residents.
However, DeMarco said the department will continue handling all incidents.
The officer, John A. Scavotto, 44, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. He was released on a $2,500 nonsurety bond and is scheduled to appear in Enfield Superior Court today.
The charges, both misdemeanors, carry the combined maximum penalty of two years in prison and $2,000 in fines.
A Taser is a device used by police officers that delivers a high-voltage charge to immobilize a suspect.
"This is an isolated incident and no way reflects the hard working men and women of this police department," Police
Chief Edward J. DeMarco Jr. said Wednesday.
Scavotto, an 18-year veteran of the department, was placed on paid administrative leave Monday in the aftermath of the incident, which occurred about 4:16 p.m. that day.
An officer sustained injuries to the head and neck after Scavotto discharged one of the department's four Tasers. The officer was treated and released from Hartford Hospital, police said.
The Taser was "negligently and recklessly discharged," which is in "direct opposition" to the department's training and established procedures, DeMarco said.
Declining to identify the injured officer, DeMarco did say he is in his early 30s and has been with department for four years. DeMarco said that he wanted to provide the officer with time to talk to his family and doctors.
Roll call for the 4 p.m. to midnight shift had just ended when the incident occurred, DeMarco said, adding that there was another officer in the room when the Taser was discharged. The shift supervisor had just exited the room, DeMarco said.
The officer's inner left cheek was damaged by one of the darts discharged by the Taser, Sgt. Michael Hannaford said today.
The injured officer is tentatively scheduled to return to work on Monday, pending approval from his doctors, DeMarco said.
In addition to the criminal investigation that culminated with Scavotto's arrest, police are also conducting an internal affairs investigation, which DeMarco expects to be completed by the end of the week.
The findings will be discussed at a special meeting of the Police Commission scheduled for May 24.
With the temporary loss of these two officers and with two other officers absent from the force - one is on medical leave while the other is on paid administrative leave - the department is down to 10 officers for a town of 10,000 residents.
However, DeMarco said the department will continue handling all incidents.