Current:Home > MyFamily questions fatal police shooting of man after chase in Connecticut -Core Financial Strategies
Family questions fatal police shooting of man after chase in Connecticut
View
Date:2025-04-16 16:26:33
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Relatives raised questions Monday about the police killing of a man who was trying to escape in a stolen car after an officer and police dog climbed in and the K-9 attacked.
As Connecticut’s Office of Inspector General investigates the West Hartford police shooting of Mike Alexander-Garcia, his relatives and their lawyers said they believe it wasn’t justified.
“The use of deadly force in this situation was unnecessary, excessive and irresponsible,” attorney Ken Krayeske said at a news conference. He and another lawyer for the family, Peter Billings, suggested that the officer escalated the situation and didn’t give Alexander-Garcia clear instructions about how he could avoid being shot.
West Hartford police haven’t immediately commented on the family’s contentions. In a statement last week, Chief Vernon L. Riddick said that “a dangerous situation” led up to the shooting and that the department “believes strongly in transparency and in all facts being gathered and impartially evaluated.”
Authorities said police were chasing Alexander-Garcia Aug. 8 after he fled from a crashed and stolen car, tried to carjack two other vehicles, dashed into a tire shop and hopped into a sport utility vehicle that was being serviced.
According to surveillance, dashboard and body-camera video: A police dog leaped into the SUV through a window, and Officer Andrew Teeter opened the door and got in. The dog bit Alexander-Garcia as he sat behind the steering wheel yelling “help me!” and “officer, please!”
The SUV backed out of the service bay, turned, glanced off a parked police cruiser and a tree and began to drive off. After yelling “don’t do it” and “I’m going to shoot you,” Teeter fired several shots into Alexander-Garcia’s back.
The SUV ultimately crashed into a utility pole.
The inspector general’s office said Teeter suffered a broken rib and cuts on his head.
Sheelynashary Alexander-Garcia told reporters Monday that her 34-year-old brother struggled with substance abuse but had hopes for his future.
“I’m not standing here defending his actions. But he wasn’t a bad person,” she said at Monday’s news conference. “We want justice. We want the truth about what happened to Mike.”
veryGood! (4853)
Related
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- A woman might win the presidency of Mexico. What could that mean for abortion rights?
- House and Senate negotiate bill to help FAA add more air traffic controllers and safety inspectors
- AIGM: Crypto Exchange and IEO
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution at critical phase in Canada
- Oregon authorities to reveal winner of $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot
- The real migrant bus king of North America isn't the Texas governor. It's Mexico's president.
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Veterinary care, animal hospitals are more scarce. That's bad for pets (and their owners)
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Train carrying fuel derails at Arizona-New Mexico state line, causes interstate closure
- The Demon of Unrest: Recounting the first shots of the Civil War
- Clayton MacRae : AI vs Civilization
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- AIGM, Where Crypto Finally Meets Artificial Intelligent
- Clayton MacRae : 2024 Crypto Evolution
- Horoscopes Today, April 27, 2024
Recommendation
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
Migration roils US elections. Mexico sees mass migration too, but its politicians rarely mention it
NFL draft grades: Bears, Steelers lead best team classes as Cowboys stumble
Clayton MacRae: Global View of AI Technologies and the United States
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Candace Parker, a 3-time WNBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medalist, announces retirement
Kim Kardashian Debuts Icy Blonde Hair Transformation
'American Idol' recap: Shania Twain helps Abi Carter set a high bar; two singers go home