Police have charged for three New Haven police officers accused of shooting guns outside a popular restaurant while they were off-duty early Sunday morning.
Officers Lawrence Burns, Charles Kim and Krzystof Ruszczyk voluntarily turned themselves in on Friday morning and were booked and released on a promise to appear, according to a news release from police.
Police responded to the area outside Christopher Martin’s Restaurant and Pub around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday after getting a 911 call.
After scouring the scene near State and Clark streets and collecting evidence, they linked the three off-duty New Haven police to the illegal gunfire, placed them on administrative leave the same day and took their weapons, badges and ID cards pending the internal investigation, police said.
Police obtained warrants for the officers on Thursday night.
Burns and Kim were each charged with unlawful discharge of a gun, reckless endangerment in the first degree and interfering with a police officer.
Ruszczyk was charged with interfering with a police officer.
"The behavior is unacceptable. It is not representative of the hard work and commitment of the men and women of the Police Department. The Police Department's action is appropriate," New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said in a release.
The officers are due in court on April 20 to be arraigned.
Although the bullets didn’t strike anyone or do any damage, people who live nearby were outraged that their own officers were accused of putting them at risk.
