- Connecticut police officer Nicholas Kehoss is charged with third-degree assault for using excessive force against suspect Jarell Day, caught on body camera footage released by the Naugatuck Police Department.
- The video shows Kehoss firing his taser multiple times at Day, who was being arrested for stealing beer, after a car chase ended in a crash.
- Kehoss has a history of disciplinary action during his 13-year tenure, including previous incidents involving unauthorized maneuvers and contradictory claims. Both Kehoss and Day have not commented on the situation.
Additional Coverage:
A police officer in Naugatuck, Connecticut, named Nicholas Kehoss, has been charged with third-degree assault for using excessive force against a suspect. The incident occurred on October 14th when Kehoss fired his taser multiple times at Jarell Day, who was being arrested for stealing $200 worth of beer. Kehoss was arrested on Monday after body camera footage was released by the Naugatuck Police Department, showing the incident.
The video, lasting four minutes and 45 seconds, depicts the moment Kehoss and another officer, John Williams, first encountered Day in his car with cases of beer in the backseat. As Williams tried to open the passenger door, Day drove off. Kehoss pursued Day’s vehicle and caught up to him when Day crashed into a pole. Kehoss then proceeded to chase after Day on foot, drawing his taser and firing it at him while yelling at him to stop.
In the video, Kehoss is heard telling Day to lie on his stomach. As Day complied and apologized, Kehoss activated his taser again and forcefully restrained Day. Day continued pleading with Kehoss, but the officer fired his taser once more at Day while he lay on the ground.
According to documents released by the Naugatuck Police Department, Kehoss has faced disciplinary action multiple times during his 13-year tenure as a police officer. In his most recent suspension in August 2022, he was disciplined for using an unauthorized “boxing-in maneuver” during a traffic stop. A previous incident in 2020 involved Kehoss discharging his firearm at a suspect during a traffic stop, which was also linked to the use of the same maneuver. In 2017, Kehoss claimed to have been struck by a vehicle during a response to another officer’s attempted traffic stop, but video evidence contradicted his claim.
Jarell Day is currently facing charges of robbery, larceny, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, and disobeying an officer’s signal. He has been released on a $200,000 bond. Kehoss, on the other hand, was released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on November 8th.
Neither Kehoss nor Day has responded to requests for comment from ABC News.