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A police officer from Connecticut has been accused of third-degree assault and breaching peace after being caught on camera for purportedly punching a man in the face during a road rage altercation.
On December 8, Thomas Brocuglio from Enfield was driving in Rocky Hill and came to a stop in front of a truck owned by off-duty police officer Allen Ganter at an intersection.
According to an investigative report by the Meriden Police Department, Mr. Brocuglio grew frustrated when the officer pulled over in a designated right-turn-only lane. The officer in question is a member of the Meriden Police Department, where Mr. Ganter is employed.
According to the report, he proceeded to honk his horn and shout, “What are we doing?” and “You jerk,” at the officer’s vehicle.
The man honked his horn once more and loudly questioned, “What’s going on? Are you planning to wait all day?” Shortly after, the off-duty officer exited his car, holding what appeared to be his police badge. He approached Mr. Brocuglio’s vehicle and remarked, “If you want to act rudely, you should know that you can’t turn right on a red light, you jerk.”
Mr Brocuglio stated, “Is that really what it says? It clearly states ‘stop here on red’.” The video showed a sign that instructed drivers to stop on a red light. The two individuals continued to argue about whether the off-duty officer was not adhering to the road sign while using his phone.
That’s when the officer came back around and punched the man on the left side of his face. Mr Ganter proceeded to call the man an “a*****e”. As he walks back to his truck, he stops and turns toward the driver and says, “Who do you think you’re f******g with? You want to get arrested?”
Mr. Brocuglio stated, “You will be arrested for attacking a civilian.” He then retrieved his phone and called the authorities.
Mr Ganter was arrested on 20 December. His department suspended him for five days without pay and placed him on administrative duty within the same month as the incident. He’s required to attend de-escalation training for three consecutive years.
According to a representative from the Meriden Police Department, the officer in question remains on administrative duty. The Independent also contacted Mr. Brocuglio for a comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
When asked by officials why the policeman chose to strike the driver, he stated, “It was simply a moment of my own foolishness, you know.”
Lieutenant Darrin McKay, in charge of internal affairs for the department, concluded that Mr Ganter had breached the department’s regulations, specifically engaging in criminal acts and behaving in an inappropriate manner for an employee. Mr Ganter’s case has been forwarded to adult probation and his next hearing is scheduled for January 30th, 2025.
Source: independent.co.uk
