State police and the Hartford State’s Attorney are investigating the death of a 22-year-old Manchester man who was shot with a stun gun while resisting arrest early Sunday, authorities said.
Jose Maldonado, of Hamlin Street in Manchester, died after struggling with officers at the East Hartford Police Department, according to state police.
The cause of his death has not been determined and is pending further study, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Maldonado was arrested and taken to police headquarters following the report of a dispute at 181 Nutmeg Lane in East Hartford shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, where police said he damaged a car with two adults and three children inside. Broken glass injured one of the adults, police said.
Maldonado fought with police while they were arresting him and was charged with three counts of risk of injury to a minor, third degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and interfering with or resisting arrest, police said.
Police said Maldonado began to fight with officers again at police headquarters, prompting Officer Jason Kaplan, a two-year veteran of the department, to shoot him with a stun gun, police said.
According to state police, Maldonado seemed to suffer medical distress” after the stun gun was used. EMS provided medical care while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Maldonado was taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital, where he died shortly after being admitted.
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The Hartford State’s Attorney and the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad are investigating the incident.
Police said the investigation is continuing.
This morning, the NAACP held a news conference at the East Hartford Police Station to renew the call for statewide regulation of law enforcement authorities using stun guns.
