Torrington Police-Involved Shooting Justified: State's Attorney

No action will be taken against a state trooper who shot and killed Frank Escribano, 78, of Torrington.

A Connecticut state trooper was justified in using deadly force when he shot and killed a 78-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease in July, according to a report the state's attorney has released.

Frank Escribano was shot on the on-ramp of Route 8 in Torrington around 9 a.m. on July 12.

A caller contacted police to report that a man with a knife was on or along the highway.

Within seconds of the broadcast, State Police Lieutenant Clayton Brown came upon Escribano, parked the vehicle to block traffic and approached the man, police said. 

According to state police, Escribano charged at Brown, the commanding officer at Troop B  in North Cannan, who was alone.

As the trooper approached, Escribano charged at him with a knife, Lt. Paul Vance, of the state police, said.

Brown tried to retreat, but Escribano continued to charge.

“State Police, drop the knife, drop the knife, or I’ll shoot,” Brown said several times, according to the state's attorney, but Escribano did not.

When Escribano did not obey the commands, Brown fired a single shot, which hit Escribano in the chest, according to the report.

Brown told the state's attorney that Escribano was "flipping" the knife and thrust it toward the trooper in a stabbing manner. 

Brown called EMS and tried to treat Escribano, who was transported to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and pronounced dead.

Investigator's spoke with a family member of the the victim, who told them that Escribano had pulled a knife on her, then turned it toward himself and said he was going outside to "make the cops shoot him," the reports states.

"It is the conclusion of this State’s Attorney that Lt. Brown reasonably and justifiably believed that he and stopped motorists on Rt. 8 were in imminent danger of being subjected to deadly physical force. It is further concluded that Lt. Brown was justified in his use of deadly physical force upon Mr. Escribano and that such force was appropriate under section 53a-22 of the General Statutes. Accordingly, no further action will be taken by the Division of Criminal Justice," State's Attorney David Shepack determined.

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