The office of the inspector general released more information on an East Haven police investigation that ended in Milford Thursday morning and said a police officer fired gunshots at a supect. No one was struck by gunfire and no weapon was found on or near the suspect, according to the newly released report.
It happened around 9:13 a.m., according to the report from the Office of Inspector General.
Just before 9 a.m., members of the East Haven Police and the FBI Task Force Officers attempted to arrest 27-year-old Nicholas Gambardella on outstanding felony warrants and they had information that he had a gun, according to the report.
Officers used their police vehicles to block Gambardella’s car, which had stopped in a Burger King parking lot in Branford, and Gambardella fled, crashing into two police cars, according to the office of inspector general.
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When Gambardella drove off and got onto Interstate 95 South, officers pursued his vehicle.
Gambardella got off I-95 at exit 36 in Milford, crashed at the end of the exit ramp.
Lt. Joseph Finoia and Lt. Kevin Klarman, both of the East Haven Police Department, chased Gambardella, who ran across the southbound and northbound lanes of the highway to a grass area on the east side of it.
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In the grass area, Gambardella appeared to reach and turn toward the officers, according to the office of inspector general.
Lt. Finoia fired his weapon three times and none of the shots struck Gambardella, according to the report.
Officers took Gambardella into custody and police did not find a weapon on or near Gambardella, the office of inspector general’s report says.
The investigation is continuing.
Gambardella was taken into custody on Jan. 5. He was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for injuries that are not life-threatening after the crash and released from the hospital on Jan. 7.
He was transported to the East Haven Police Department, where he was processed on several outstanding arrest warrants charging him with failure to appear, police said.
Gambardella was released on a total of $151,500 court set bonds and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 18 in New Haven.
Police said charges connected to the Jan. 5 incident will be forthcoming.
