By Christine Dempsey
The Hartford Courant
HARTFORD, Conn. — Police are investigating a struggle between a city officer and a juvenile this week after a cellphone video of the clash surfaced.
No one was seriously injured in the confrontation, during which the officer, identified as Officer Roberto Maldonado, used pepper spray and a baton on the 17-year-old, Deputy Chief Brian Foley said. Before the officer used force, the teen had put him in a headlock, causing Maldonado to begin to lose consciousness, Foley said.
Still, investigators will review the video, which the department received from a television reporter, Foley said.
“We’re fully investigating,” he said Thursday afternoon. “In an effort to continue openness and public trust, it’s in everybody’s best interest to have these videos reviewed by our Internal Affairs Division and Professional Standards Division.”
Foley said the confrontation happened a few days ago at the Burger King at 811 Main St. Maldonado went there after the owner or manager called police to complain about the teen, he said.
Maldonado was about to write a juvenile summons, apparently for criminal trespass, Foley said, but the teen didn’t cooperate and wouldn’t come outside the restaurant.
The video shows the officer pulling the teen outside, which is when the teen gets on top of the officer. The teen remains on top of the officer for some time before the officer appears to throw him off, pick up his baton and slowly walk toward the teen. Maldonado appears to use pepper spray and then strike the teen with the baton.
The teenager was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer and other charges after the clash, Foley said. He said he is not allowed to release teen’s name or more details because of the youth’s status as a juvenile.
Maldonado, who has been a member of the Hartford Police Department since 1999, was at the center of a $7.92 million settlement involving the department in 2004 that stemmed from a November 2001 car accident in which he was involved while pursuing a suspect.
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