Paul Bass File Photo
Officer Chad Curry.
Officials Friday afternoon released this dash camera video of Officer Curry being shot and returning fire. (Warning: The video depicts images of violence.)
Police Friday made an arrest in Hartford of a 36-year-old New Haven man accused of having shot New Haven cop Chad Curry earlier in the day.
Hartford and New Haven police worked together with federal law enforcement agents to make the arrest. The two departments’ SWAT teams surrounded a house on Putnam Street in Hartford. The alleged shooter eventually came outside and surrendered without incident, according to New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
Curry was shot during an incident that occurred at Blatchley Avenue and Chapel Street in New Haven Friday around 1:30 a.m.
Curry, a nine-and-a-half-year veteran cop known for deescalating tense situations, responded to a single-vehicle crash. He heard the crash, called it in, and drove to the scene.
One of the people involved in the crash fled on foot. Curry drove along as the man fled east on Chapel.
Curry called out to the man to stop. The man fired bullets into Curry’s cruiser window.
Curry went out into the street. The man shot at him as he continued fleeing. Curry fired back.
“Signal 4,” Curry called through his radio. That’s the code for “officer needs assistance.”
Two bullets hit Curry, at least one of them inside the cruiser, perhaps one on the street, according to the police chief. Curry’s ear was grazed. A bullet was lodged in his shoulder.
You can watch the encounter on dash cam video released by the state inspector general’s office Friday afternoon. The video appears at the top of this article.
No one else was hit by the bullets, according to Jacobson. A vehicle and a building were hit.
The above video is of the Friday afternoon press conference at police headquarters.
“Everything was done by the book,” Jacobson said at a Friday afternoon press conference of Curry’s work. “He had no choice but to defend himself and fire back.”
Curry was transported from the scene by fellow officers to Yale New Haven Hospital, where the bullet was removed and Curry was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was in good enough shape to be released, though he did break his shoulder, according to Jacobson.
Police charged the arrestee with first-degree assault, assault on a public safety officer, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit, and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He was being held at 1 Union Ave. Friday afternoon on a $1 million bond. He is expected to appear in court Tuesday.
The arrestee also had an outstanding warrant related to a separate domestic violence incident.
“The officer did an amazing job under extremely dangerous and life-threatening circumstances,” Chief Jacobson said of Curry.
Click here and here to read previous articles about Curry’s work as a city police officer. He has served on the force for nine years. His sister and a cousin are also members of the force.
The chief said he visited Curry at home before the press conference. He said Curry was “doing well,” “up and walking,” making jokes.
Thomas Breen photo
Officer Curry at a July press conference celebrating his de-escalation work.
The state inspector general’s office is investigating the incident, as is customary in police-involved shootings. The state’s attorney’s office and the state police are assisting New Haven police in their investigation.
Police ask that any witnesses who have not yet spoken with the Police to contact the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203 – 946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1 – 866-888-TIPS (8477), or text “NHPD” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).