On 8/30/14, the Southbury Resident Trooper's Office received a complaint of a domestic dispute at a private home located at Old Waterbury Road in Southbury. Prior to police arrival, the suspect had fled and is alleged to have taken a vehicle from a neighbor’s home that contained a handgun. The vehicle was described as a 2006 Chevrolet Blazer and all area police were notified of the details regarding the stolen vehicle.
On Sept. 1, 2014, at about 10:45 a.m., it was reported that the Waterbury Police Department had briefly spotted the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the suspect fled.
At approximately 11:15 a.m., a Trooper on patrol on Main Street in Woodbury spotted the stolen vehicle and, along with a Woodbury Town Officer, both attempted to stop the vehicle. The trooper and officer chased the suspect vehicle into Washington where the suspect crashed on Wykeham Road and Bell Hill Road. The suspect then tried to ram the Trooper and officer's vehicle.
The suspect then displayed a weapon toward the trooper and officer and he refused to comply with orders to disarm. The suspect was fired upon by the trooper and officer at which time the suspect then took a knife and began to attempt to harm his neck.
The trooper and officer approached. The trooper then utilized his assigned taser to disarm the suspect to enable them to take the suspect into custody.
The Trooper and officer forcibly removed the suspect from the stolen vehicle. They provided emergency care for the suspect's neck injury and he was transported by ambulance to Waterbury Hospital emergency room, where it is reported he suffers from non life-threatening injury.
The investigation was assigned to the State Police Central District Major Crime Squad with assistance from the Litchfield State's Attorney Office. The investigation will be submitted to the Litchfield State's Attorney upon completion.
The identities of the involved Trooper and Officer are being withheld at this time pending family notification.
As is department policy, the Trooper will be assigned to administrative duties pending the completion of this investigation.
The accused is under State Police guard at Waterbury Hospital.
The case remains under investigation.
** UPDATE** Trooper, officer, accused identified:
Trooper Tyler Spence, an eight–year-veteran of the Connecticut State Police; assigned to Troop L in Litchfield.
Woodbury Police Officer Tim Wright, a veteran police officer, currently a Woodbury Police Officer.
ACCUSED: Tyler Santoro (DOB 4/25/83) of 1221 Old Waterbury Rd. ~ Southbury, Ct
CHARGES: Pending
Santoro will be arrested by Troop A personnel on several charges to include a domestic incident that occurred on 8/30/14 and the stolen vehicle charges with a court set bond totaling $250,000.00.
Charges resulting from the pursuit and use of force incident pending.