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CITY OF HARTFORD Hartford! Police Department 253 High Street Hartford, Connecticut 06103 160) 757-4000 JASON C, THODY een ice.harford.gov Mayor Interim Chief of Police Date: September 12, 2019 Tile #2019-014 ‘This report was prepared by Sergeant Leslie Suarez, a supervisor assigned to the Hartford Police Department Intemal Affairs Division, under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Kevin O’Brien, Commander of the Hartford Police Department Internal Affairs Division, DATE OF INCIDENT: July 29, 2019 ‘TIME OF INCIDENT: 0208 Hours LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 580 Tower Avenue Bloomfield, Connecticut COMPLAINANT: Interim Chief Jason C. Thody OFFICER ACCUSED: Officer Joven Gonzalez ALLEGATION: On-Duty Domestic Incident File # 2079-014 Serving the Copal Cy 1 INVESTIGATIVE PLAN TAD I File # 2019-014 Complainant: Interim Chief Jason C. Thody Complaint Date: July 29,2019 1 ALLEGATION 1, On-Duty Domestic Incident t Enclosures: Interdepartmental Memorandum from Interim Chief Jason C. Thody Dispatch Call Log/Dispatch Recording/Heartbeat In-House Records Interdepartmental Memorandum from Lieutenant Christene Mertes Officer Case Incident Report Interdepartmental Memorandum from Lieutenant Kevin O’Brien Bloomfield Police Department Case Incident Reports/Written Statements/Surveillance Video Copy of Protective Order Application Hartford Courant Article Interviews Officer Joven Gonzalez, E-File # 2019-014 Serving the Capita City CITY OF HARTFORD TO: Jason C, Thody Interim Chief of Police - FROM: Sergeant Leslie Suarek |? Investigator, Internal AFisif$ Division DATE: September 12, 2019 SUBJECT: IAD LFile # 2019-014 1, On July 29, 2019, I was directed by Lieutenant Kevin O'Brien, Commander of the Internal Affairs Division, to conduct an investigation into an on-duty domestic violence incident involving Hartford Police Officer Joven Gonzalez anc Officer Gonzalez is currently the subject of another ongoing Internal Affairs investigation documented under [File Number 2019-012, which also involves 2. On July 29, 2019, Lieutenant Christene Mertes submitted an Interdepartmental Memorandum addzessed to Lieutenant O'Brien. A summary of the memorandum is as follows: On July 29, 2019, Officer Gonzalez was assigned patrol unit 16. At approximately 0222 hours, Lieutenant Mertes received notification through dispatch that an anonymous female caller reported she observed a Hartford officer grab a female in the area of Tower Avenue al Mayfair Street, The caller said the female was seventeen to twenty-one years-old and gave a description of her. The female told the caller she knew the officer and his name was Officer Joven Gonzalez. The caller informed dispatch that she wished to remain anonymous. At approximately 0231 hours, Lieutenant Mertes delegated Sergeant Campbell to contact the complainant in attempts to gather more information as he was Officer Gonzalez’s direct, supervisor. At approximately 0240 hours, Lieutenant Mertes responded to the area of Tower Avenue at Waverly Street to canvass for the female. She wanted to ensure the female was not injured and attempted to find evidence to support the caller’s allegation. At approximately 0245 houts, while in the area, Officer Gonzalez approached Lieutenant Mertes, and spoke with her about the incident that just occurred involving a young women he previously arrested. Fite # 2019-014 Serving he Capital Cy 3 Officer Gonzalez. advised Lieutenant Mertes he currently has an open Internal Affairs investigation with He further informed Lieutenant Mertes when he arrested she identified herself as an adult but he subsequently leamed she was seventeen years-old. That after he arrested Ms. contacted him on social media and they eventually had a consensual sexual relationship. Officer Gonzalez reported when he found out her age, he ended the relationship and she did not respond well. Ms. treated his wife, his children and damaged some of their property. He further reported despite police contact, nothing has happened to Ms. Officer Gonzalez attempted to stay away from Ms. but this would cause her to become emotional and upset. Not knowing what to do, he agreed to meet her, on-duty, at the church lot to return her belongings. When they met, she gtabbed his phone from the outer carrier of his external vest. Officer Gonzalez state he was concerned because he stores sensitive work information in his cell phone and needed to get it back, When he attempted to get his phone, Ms. deployed “mace.” At this point, the encounter made its way from the driveway and into the street. Officer Gonzalez was able to retrieve his cell phone. Officer Gonzalez provided Lieutenant Mertes with Ms. last known address of He informed Lieutenant Mertes he does not have a working phone number but provided Lieutenant Mertes with Ms. iCloud address. Lieutenant Mertes directed Officer Gonzalez not to have any further contact with Ms. Officer Gonzalez was then sent to Headquarters to decontaminate and wait for further instruction. Lieutenant Mertes continued to canvass for Ms. leading to negative results. Sergeant Campbell made contact with the anonymous caller, who reiterated that she wished to remain anonymous, She informed Sergeant Campbell she was driving by when she saw Officer Gonzalez grab ahold of Ms. by the hand, as she tried to pull away. She then made a U-tum to make sure Ms. ‘was okay. Ms. informed her she knew Officer Gonzalez and stated he broke her phone, The caller reported Ms. appeared frazzled but not injured. The place of incident, 580 Tower Avenue, is located in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Lieutenant Meries made contact with Lieutenant OBrien, who contacted the Bloomfield Police Department regarding the incident. The Bloomfield Police Department responded to conduct a criminal investigation. 3. On July 29, 2019, a City of Hartford Deparment of Emergency Services and Telecommunications form, requesting all calls, dispatch recordings, and “I-Calls” from the incident. ‘The form was submitted to Mr. Paul Bruce, Operations Manager of the City of Hartford Department of Emergeney Services and Telecommunications. A summary of the dispatch recordings are as follows: File #2019-014 Serving th Capital City 4 At 0208 hour, Officer Gonzalez activated his portable radio and a short scuffle is heard, A female can then be heard erying and sounds as if she is in distress, stating “I don’t know why you” and the transmission ends. At 0208 hours, Officer Gonzalez tell dispatch “disregard.” At 0212 hours, a woman reports seeing a young woman, Ms. and an officer in the area of Tower Avenue and Mayfair Road. That Ms. told her Officer Gonzalez had assaulted her and she also observed Officer Gonzalez grabbing Ms. After witnessing Officer Gonzalez grab Ms. she tumed her vehicle around. She asked Ms. if she was “okay.” Ms. said “no” and told her Officer Gonzalez took her phone. Officer Gonzalez then drove away in the police cruiser. ‘No other pertinent information was heard on the recordings, 4. On July 29, 2019, at approximately 0800 hours, I spoke with Officer Gonzalez in the Internal Affairs Conference Room, after he was interviewed post-Miranda by Sergeant Zachery Klomberg of the Bloomfield Police Department. I informed Officer Gonzalez I was assigned the initial Internal Affairs investigation and would also be assigned to administratively investigate the incident. I ordered Officer Gonzalez, not to have any contact with Ms, or any mutual friends associated with her. Officer Gonzalez acknowledge he understood, I did not discuss any further details with Officer Gonzalez. at the time. 5. On July 29, 2019, I assisted lead investigator Sergeant Klomberg attempt to locate Ms. in order to ensure she was safe and unharmed. In a prior interview with Sergeant Klomberg, Officer Gonzalez provided an address of stating Ms. frequents that location with her friend “Muddy,” later identified as ‘When we went to that address, we met with a woman who identified herself asMs. ‘mother. She confirmed Ms. had recently been staying there, but lef the prior evening and has not returned, Contact was made with Ms. on her cell plone and she agreed to meet with us at her place of employment. 6. On July 29, 2019 at 1039 houts, Sergeant Klomberg, Sergeant Barly and I responded to ; Connecticut to speak with Ms, Ms. agreed io a recorded interview. A summary of Ms. interview is as follows: Ms. came to her residence on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 “just to chill.” Offcer Gonzalez had previously spoken with her and explained that Ms. wasn’t ding well and did not have a place to stay, Since then, Ms. has been staying wither and has been using Ms. phone to communicate with Officer Gonzalez. Vis. stated most of their conversations are negative and “childish,” and that hey constantly argue “about nothing,” She further stated yesterday, she and Ms, gent some time at Ms. uncle’s house. Officer Gonzalez. did not believe her and accised Ms. of cheating on him, calling and inquiring as to her whereabouts througloust Bile # 2019-014 Servi the Captal Cy 5 the day. While working, Officer Gonzalez met with Ms. and dropped her off Jamaican food and continued to question her about her whereabouts. Later on that day, Ms. mother told her Ms. could no longer stay with them. Because of this, Officer Gonzalez agreed to give Ms his vehicle so she can get to her mother’s house in ; Connecticut. Around midnight, Officer Gonzalez, went to her house and threw his car key out the cruiser window and she retrieved it for Ms. They then walked to the police station parking lot and picked up his vehicle, Shortly after, Ms. dropped off Ms. and left for the night. At 0342 hours, Ms, retuned to her house, knocking on her window and demanding to use her cell phone. Ms. said she gave her the phone through the window and walked outside to speak with her. Ms, proceeded to tell her Officer Gonzalez came to visit her at her uncle’s house on .. They were standing outside talking and he became upset over an unknown reason and punched her in the stomach twice. A female citizen observed the assault and offered to assist Ms. while she was lying on the ground. Ms. stated Ms. left Officer Gonzalez” car and walked back, Ms. stated Ms, contacted Officer Gonzalez from her cell phone. Ms. also mentioned how side of the story to her. He ‘was upset, telling him she was “done with him.” Ms he broke her phone, Officer Gonzalez also tried to explain told her Ms. is just telling half of the story and denied ever “putting his hands on her.” Ms. stated she is aware Ms, is a lier and a thief and has caught her lying in the past. She also described Officer Gonzalez as a “liar.” Ms. further stated Ms. then told-her the argument started when Officer Gonzalez received @ phone call from his wife. Ms. could hear his wife telling Officer Gonzalez, she knows he still has been in contact with Ms. Officer Gonzalez attempted to comfort his wife, reassuring her he was no longer in contact vith her and that he had not been intimate with her in over three months. Ms. didnot speak up and just decided to leave. Ms. was able to contact Ms. onher uncle's cell phone and she agreed to meet with us. 7. On Iuly 29, 2019, Sergeant Klomberg and I responded to at Ms. request. When we arrived, Ms. ‘met us in the driveway and agreed to be interviewed at Hartford Police Headquarters. Upon arrival, Ms, ‘was escorted to the Intemal Affairs Conference Room. Sergeant Klomberg then made contact with her mother, who also agreed to respond, Shortly after, arrived with Mix. Ms, father. Prior to conducting the interview, Sergeant Klomberg, advised Ms. and Ms, of their Miranda Rights. They both acknowledged they understood and agreed to be interviewed, EEPile # 2019-014 Sorving the Capital Cy 6 Ms. stated Officer Gonzalez. called while she was with Ms. at her house. Ms, told Officer Gonzalez she needed a ride home and he told her to go get his keys, so that she could pick up his vehicle from the police station parking lot. After picking the car up, she met him at the church on Tower Avenue with Ms. Ms. stated she received a'message on her phone and Officer Gonzalez. questioned her about it. Officer Gonzalez. decided to “swing on her,” so she decided to “remove herself from the situation” by exiting his vehicle and began to walk away. Officer Gonzalez then punched her in the stomach twice. Ms, noticed a woman watching from across the street, ‘ho insisted the incident be reported. Ms. and Ms. then walked up Tower Avenue, towards Blue Hills Avenue, where they got a ride back to Garden Street. When she arrived back to Ms. house, Officer Gonzalez showed up threatening her, informing her cops were looking for her, In the moming, Officer Gonzalez. called her on Ms, phone offering to fix her cell phone and bring her the clothes she had left in his vehicle. Ms. stated that was the last time she spoke with Officer Gonzalez. Sergeant Klomberg asked Ms. for clatification on the events of the night and time she stated Officer Gonzalez brought her his car keys to = She said he threw the keys out the window and told her to go get his vehicle at the police station parking lot, She later met him in the church parking lot where he was sleeping. Ms. pulled up next to him, knocked on his window, and woke him up. Ms asked for her bookbag which was in his trunk. He then “took her phone automatically” and she was going to leave but Ms advised her not to. When she exited the vehicle, he began to question her about the male she was texting, accusing her of cheating on him. Ms. stated she did not entertain the comments and continued to walk away. Officer Gonzalez. then punched her in the stomach twice and threw her phone. Ms. stited her and her friends had to get away from Officer Gonzalez. Later on, Officer Gonzalez called Ms. and told her his friend, towed his vehicle from the church lot to the police station, Ms. explained the incident for a third time and stated when she knocked on the window, she told Officer Gonzalez. to give her gas money. Ms. cell phone then went off and Officer Gonzalez began to question her. He exited the police cruiser, opened ‘the car door, removed the keys, and began to follow her and Ms. as they walked away. Ms. denied taking Officer Gonzalez’ phone. She confirmed having mace on her key chain but denied spraying him with it. 8. On July 29, 2019, Officer contacted Lieutenant O’Brien. Officer explained Officer Gonzalez had shared some details with him regarding the incident, Lieutenant O’Brien immediately ordered Officer to document the conversation in detail. A summary of Officer report is as follows: ILPte # 2019-014 Serving he Captal Cy 7 Officer Gonzalez approached Officer outside the roll call room and expressed he needed someone to talk to and asked Officer for his phone number. Officer noticed his eyes were blood shot and inquired as to what was wrong. Officer Gonzalez informed him he had been pepper sprayed by a female friend after meeting her at Kingdom Hall to retrieve some personal items. During the interaction, some type of struggle took place and she took his cell phone and pepper sprayed him, Officer Gonzalez further stated the female flagged down a motorist, who contacted the police. Officer Gonzalez then proceeded to tell Officer he arrested the female as a twenty- cone year-old and later discovered she was only seventeen years-old. Officer asked Officer Gonzalez. why he would be interested in having a sexual relationship with a seventeen years-old and he stated he did not know. Concerned, Officer asked Officer Gonzalez. if when he found out she was only seventeen years-old, did he stop having a sexual relations with her. Officer Gonzalez did not respond, Officer _ stopped Officer Gonzalez. from speaking and advised him to seek legal counsel in the matter. Officer further added that approximately a week prior, he observed damage to Officer Gonzalez’ vehicle window. He inquired on the damage and Officer Gomalez informed Officer his stereo equipment had been stolen, Officer further added she observed a large speaker in the vehicle and could hear music coming from the trunk. 9. On July 29, 2019 at 1536 hours, Officer Gonzalez. was issued a no contaet order, via an Interdepartmental Memorandum, from Lieutenant O’Brien. This served as a notification to fan open administrative investigation regarding this incident. It further gave direct oxlers not to have further contact with Ms, 10, On July 30, 2019, F obtained a copy of Bloomfield Police Sergeants Klomberg’s recacled audio and video interview with Officer Gonzalez. The interview was conducted in the Hartford Police Intemal Affairs Division Conference Room. A summauy of the intertiew is.as follows: Officer Gonzalez stated he met Ms. through an arrest he conducted in April 2019. Ms ‘was arrested for Larceny in the Sixth Degree and transported to the Deteition Facility, where she was processed and released as an adult, Ms. told him thatshhe ent through the court process and received community service. Approximately a veek after the arrest, Ms. found Officer Gonzalez on Instagram and they bega to converse with one another. Approximately three months later, Officer Gonzalez was helping Ms. apply for employment and asked for her birth certificate, He sted she was “strangely hesitant” to provide it to him. When he saw the birth certificate he confirmed she was in fact seventeen years-old and terminated the relationship. This nade Ms. “really angry,” resulting in “hundreds of phone calls and text messages.”"Mis. I-File # 2019-014 Serring the Capt Cy 8 threatened to murder his family and has shown up at his home while attempting to run over his wife. This has been documented by the Windsor Police Department, Ms. ended up getting upset with him and called the Hartford Police Department, reporting that he was in a relationship with a seventeen year-old which she knew would have some “unfavorable results.” Since then she has been a “terror.” The only way she is. not actively trying to do negative things to him is if she sces “some light at the end of the ‘tunnel for some sort of relationship.” That for the past few weeks, hie has been corcial with her, having casual conversations so it hasn't been “as bad, but she's bad.” Officer Gonzalez. stated Ms. hhad some personal belongings in the trunk of his vehicle that he was unaware of. He attempted to meet with her earlier in the day, in a public, place but she didn’t make it. Later during the night, they exchanged text messages and she had asked for his location, He responded, giving her his location and not anticipating any issues. When she arrived at the church and he gave her the belongings, Ms. then grabbed his cell phone from his outer carrier pocket, Officer Gonzalez. asked her several times to return the phone, but she refused and walked away. Officer Gonzalez stated he followed her with the police cruiser. Ms. then threw his phone on the ground and while he was retrieving it, she sprayed him with mace. She continued to actively tell him she will continue to mace him. Officer Gonzalez. was able to remove the ‘mace from her hand and threw it into the woods. Officer Gonzalez was still speaking with her, to attempt to deter her from making false accusation against him. Officer Gonzalez stated he did not want to deal with that kind of stress and wanted to talk her out of making a false report. Officer Gonzalez saw a vehicle pull over and assumed she knew the person. At that time, he drove off and responded to a call for service, Officer Gonzalez futher stated when Ms. first arrived, the conversation between them was not a negative one because he asked “how she was doing and how her day was.” He did notice her responses were short, which was odd to him because she usually “talks and talks.” Officer Gonzalez stated he is aware Ms. has some mental health issues based on his experiences with her but did not anticipate this outcome. Officer Gonzalez. stated that he did not threaten her in anyway but did use his body as a barrier and held onto her arm as she was trying to walk away. Officer Gonzalez was asked to provide a written statement and agreed to do so. Before beginning, he asked Sergeant Klomberg to “borrow his bullet points,” stating he was tired and wanted to keep his conversation organized, Sergeant Klomberg declined the request. Officer Gonzalez offered Sergeant Klomberg his cell phone to read his messages amd acknowledged that he has been given “strick orders” to not have further contact with, Ms. Sergeant Klomberg inquired if Ms. had attempted to contact him after the incident and Officer Gonzalez, said “yes.” Sergeant Klomberg is seen looking through Officer Gonzalez’ cell phone and ask for clarification on the messages, Officer Gonzalez acknowledges receiving text messages from Ms. phone, knowing it was Ms. and in fact responds. Eile # 2019-014 Serving the Capital City 9 11. On July 30, 2019, a copy of the surveillance video from 570 Tower Avenue was obtained. ‘The footage is forty-eight minutes and forty-four seconds in length, At 0054 hours, the camera view shows Officer Gonzalez pulling into the driveway, making a K-tum, with his personal vehicle viewed directly behind him. The video is dark and of poor quality, making it unable to determine who is occupying it. Once Officer Gonzalez patks the police vehicle, his personal vehicle parks next to him and they both tun off their vehicle lights. At 0124 ‘hours, his personal vehicle’s lights are turned on and it reverses out of the camera view. Officer Gonzalez stays parked in his police cruiser, At 0134 hours, his personal vehicle returns and parks in the same spot again, At 0200 hours, Officer Gonzalez is viewed exiting the cruiser. He later re-enters his police cruiser and drives away from his personal vehicle. Officer Gonzalez exits the vehicle and approaches the driver's side a second time, standing outside of the vehicle. He then walks back to the cruiser and sits in it. Ms. is seen exiting the vehicle, removing a bag from the back seat and walks towards the exit of the driveway out of the camera view. Officer Gonzalez. is seen exiting the driveway, making a U-turn and re-enters while Ms. is walking down the driveway. Ms. appears to notice Officer Gonzalez, turning around and goes through the grass, onto the parking area in front of the church, Officer Gonzalez then enters the cameras view and drove the police vehicle over the grass onto the parking lot where Ms. was last seen walking. At 0216 hours, a third camera affixed to the church at 570 Tower Avenue captures Officer Gonzalez walking around the property, with a flashlight in his hand. 12, On August 1, 2019, Sergeant Klomberg made notification to State’s Attomey Gail Hardy. Sergeant Klomberg was advised not to submit an arrest warrant and deferred the matter to the Hartford Police Department Intemal Affairs Division for an administrative investigation. 13. On August 2, 2019, all Bloomfield Police case incident reports were obtained. The reports ‘were consistent with the statements viewed on body camera, and the surveillance footage provided. 14.On August 6, 2019, camera footage was obtained by the Hartford Police Department Capital City Command Center (C4), tracking Officer Gonzalez’ locations during his tour of duty. At 0020 hours, he is seen twice in the area of . He is then seen activating his lights, driving north on Garden Street and out of cameras view. At 0037 hows, surveillance cameras captured two females walking into the gravel lot of the Police Department. At 0039 hours, Officer Gonzalez’ personal vehicle is seen leaving the gravel lot. At 0047 hours, Officer Gonzalez goes back to the area of ; this time File # 2019-014 Seving he Capt Cy 10 while traveling north on Garden Street. His personal vehicle is seen directly behind the police vehicle. Both vehicles travel north on Garden Street to Westland Street, out of the camera view. Please note, at 0054 hours, both vehicles are captured arriving at the church on surveillance cameras. 15.On August 12, 2019 at 1041 hours, I made contact with Inspector Emory Hightower to discuss the matter. Inspector Hightower confirmed the investigation was deferred to the Internal Affairs Division. 16. On August 13, 2019, at 1810 hours, Sergeant Ragion and I conducted a recorded interview with Officer Gonzalez, This interview took place at the Intemal Affairs Division Conference Room. Officer Gonzalez was advised that this interview was part of an administrative interview and his Garrity Rights applied. Furthermore, Officer Gonzalez lected, under the Weingarien Ruling, to have Union Representative Officer Josh Walsh present. A summary of Officer Gonzalez’ interview is as follows: Officer Gonzalez was asked if he saw Ms. during his second shift on July 28, 2019. He stated “I don’t believe I saw her at all” and he was asked a second time, which he responded by saying “I don’t believe so, no.” Officer Gonzalez stated he attempted to meet Ms earlier in the day at the Walmart ‘on Flatbush Avenue, to give her the belongings before he started his shift. Ms. did not have a ride and was unable to meet him as planned. ‘When beginning his third shift July 28, 2019, Ms. called Officer Gonzalez. and requested to meet him for her belongings. Officer Gonzalez grabbed a bag of paperwork from his personal vehicle to meet with her. When he was in the area of Tower Avenue and Waverly Street, Ms called him asking for his location. Officer Gonzalez. wanted to provide her with a numeric, so he pulled into the church on Tower Avenue to give heran addtess. ‘When Ms. met him, he gave her the bag of paperwork. She reached into the police cruiser and took his cell phone from his outer vest carrier pocket. Officer Gonzalez described Ms. as jealous and always “assumes there are things in his cell phone.” Ms. attempted to leave with his cell phone and Officer Gonzalez followed her with his cruiser, attempting to retrieve his phone. He stated he then parked his cruiser, approached her, and she maced him. Officer Gonzalez was able to take the can of mace from her and throw it. Officer Gonzalez stated he got back into his cruiser and began to pull off, He could not see well and pulled back into the church parking lot. Officer Gonzalez observed Ms. talking to a passerby that he believed Ms. \ stopped simultaneously. At that time, an officer had responded to a call alone and Officer Gonzalez left to assist. When the call was complete, he went back to the church to decontaminate himself. Officer Gonzalez stated he was going to begin making notifications Fite # 2019-014 Serving he Capt City u but then observed Lieutenant Mertes in the area and stopped her. Officer Gonzalez then informed her of the incident. When Officer Gonzalez was asked how Ms. arrived to meet him, he stated that it ‘was in his vehicle. When asked how she was able to get the vehicle, Officer Gonzalez. said he couldn’t remember if he brought her his vehicle or she picked it up. She has borrowed his vehicle in the past and would commonly pick it up at the police station parking lot. Officer Gonzalez. further stated he is “pretty sure” she picked it up from the parking lot. Officer Gonzalez denied bringing her his car key while on shift, as reported by Ms. and Ms. Officer Gonzalez was asked if the meet up was solely for him to give her back belongings, why he didn’t just leave them in the vehicle he allowed her to borrow. Officer Gonzalez paused and responded “that's a good point, your right. She could have just got it from my car.” ‘When asked, Officer Gonzalez does not believe this incident in anyway discredits the department. Officer Gonzalez stated “I was attacked, I was literally attacked, I did nothing wrong, I mean not a single thing, I didn’t harm her physically, I didn’t assault her, I didn’t threaten her or do anything that would look bad on the police department other then be a victim.” 17.On August 14, 2019, I received an email from Officer Gonzalez. Officer Gonzalez provided a photo of a protective order applied for on August 2, 2019. The Respondent listed is Ms. with an incorrect address of , Hartford, Connecticut. The expiration date is listed as August 13, 2019. Officer Gonzalez did not provide this information during his first interview and the application was not granted. 18. On August 22, 2019 at 1741 hours, Sergeant Pacheco and I conducted a second recorded interview with Officer Gonzalez to clarify inconsistencies in his first interview. This interview took place at the Internal Affairs Division Conference Room, Officer Gonzalez ‘was advised that this interview was part of an administrative investigation and his Garrity Rights applied. Furthermore, Officer Gonzalez elected, under the Weingarten Ruling, to have Union Representative Officer John Rolando present. A summaty of Officer Gonzalez” interview is as follows: Officer Gonzalez stated that he did not see Ms. during his second shift on July 2: 2019 and gave her his location when he parked at the church during his third shit assignment, I informed Officer Gonzalez the encounter was on C4 cameras and he is observed in the area of » twice. The second time, he leaves the area arad his personal vehicle follows directly behind the police cruiser. Officer Gonzalez stated Fae does not remember this happening. Eile # 2019-014 Serving the Cpa Cy 2 Officer Gonzalez. further stated Ms. met him at the church twice. The first time she was with two fiiends and stayed for a short conversation, She later returned alone. ‘When asked why he chose the church parking lot to meet he stated “I don’t know, maybe subconsciously I knew I probably shouldn't be meeting her, so I picked an isolated spot, 1 don’t know, I'm trying to be honest.” Officer Gonzalez stated the second time Ms. returned, she parked next to Officer Gonzalez close enough that he could pass her the paperwork through the open operator side windows. That they sat there for a short time and spoke. While seated in the vehicle she leaned into the cruiser and took his phone from his outer vest carrier. Officer Gonzalez stated he then exited the cruiser and continuously asked for his phone and Ms. wouldn't give it back. Officer Gonzalez then re-entered his eruiser and continued to ask for his phone through the open window. Ms. also threatened to leave with his vehicle and park it somewhere, insinuating he would have to find it, Ms, then got out of his vehicle and walked off with his phone. Officer Gonzalez followed her in his cwiser ‘through the parking Jot onto Tower Avenue. Officer Gonzalez. was leaving the area but decided to tum around and attempt to retrieve his phone. When he approached Ms. she sprayed him with mace. Officer Gonzalez stated he then “just walked up to her and took it out of her hand.” Ms, started to threaten him about losing his job. Officer Gonzalez: became nervous because he was unsure what she would complain of, He was asked why he did not activate his body camera, at which time he responded that would have been the perfect time to do. When asked if he was ordered by Lieutenant Mertes to not have contact with Ms. he stated “yes.” Officer Gonzalez was also asked if he had contact with Ms. afer the incident and he stated “yes,” as he did ix the interview with the Bloomfield Police Department. He then backtracked stating he was instructed by Lieutenant Mertes to go to the police station, change his clothes and woic on reports if needed. That he was never instructed by anyone not to have contact with Ms. Officer Gonzalez. stated he did make contact with Ms. on her friends phone when leaving the scene, Officer Gonzalez wanted to inquire on what ‘was claiming in her complaint, assuming she had called the police. During the interview, Officer Gonzalez. freely stated “this person was arrested for the Jowest, lowest misdemeanor charge possible in the State of Connecticut. Everybody mikes mistakes. I don’t think it’s a testament to a person’s character. People make mistakes, tlat”s where my mind was.” ‘The recording of the complaint from the concerned citizen was played for Oficer Gonzalez. Officer Gonzalez was asked when the citizen stopped is that why he decided to drive off. He responded, “no | didn’t I literally did not see her at all for a second.” He further stated “I really don’t believe she was there when the incident occurred.” Itwas brought to his attention that in his last interview, he witnessed seeing the vehicle top. Officer Gonzalez paused and acknowledge he did state prior that he had observed the individual stop to assist Ms. Officer Gonzalez stated he has not had contact with Ms. since he received the order from the Internal Affairs Division. He did state he was in contact with her friends up I-Fite # 2019-014 Serr ihe Capa Cy 3 into a least two weeks after the incident. Officer Gonzalez. stated her friends “were under the impression that he is this animal who assaulted their friend.” He further stated he knew police would be speaking to her friends and they didn’t know his “side of the story” and believes her friends “will lie for her or tell miss truths.” Officer Gonzalez was told by him reaching out to her fiiends and attempting to sway there perception of him is a direct interference with the investigation, but he did not agree. Investigation Summary and Findings: On July 29, 2019, Officer Joven Gonzalez was involved in an on duty domestic incident at 570 Tower Avenue, Bloomfield, Connecticut, (Kingdom Hall Church). Officer Gonzalez is currently the subject of a separate Internal Affairs Investigation involving Ms. documented under I-File Number 2019-012. A concerned citizen reported she witnessed Officer Gonzalez. grabbing onto Ms. It caused her enough concern to turn her vehicle around and check on Ms. When she pulled over, Officer Gonzalez drove off and she was able to have a conversation with Ms. Ms. identified Officer Gonzalez to the caller and told her he assaulted her and took her cell phone. Ms. asked that she call the police and walked off towards the church, while yelling. When the call was placed, the citizen no longer had contact with Ms. The caller reported Ms. was upset but did not appear to be injured, Officer Gonzalez was interviewed by the Bloomfield Police Department and submitted a sworn written statement. Officer Gonzalez stated he met Ms. after arresting he: for Larceny in April 2019. Ms. lied about her age and identified herself as twenty years-old. Several weeks later, Ms. found him on social media and shortly after ‘they were in a dating, sexual relationship. Officer Gonzalez. reported when he found out her age, he attempted to break things off but continued to have a friendship with her. That f he didn’t she would threaten his family and his job. On the date of incident, Officer Gonzalez met up with Ms. to give her seme personal belongings she had left in his vehicle. Officer Gonzalez arranged to meet with Ms. in the church parking lot to give her the belongings. Officer Gonzalez stated after giving her the items, she took his cell phone fom the outer cartier of his vest and refuset to return it after several request. Officer Gonzalez. followed her out the parking lot and repeatedly asked for his cell phone. A verbal altercation began and Ms, threwhis phone to the ground, As Officer Gonzalez retrieved it, Ms. maced him. Officer Gonzalez was able to remove the spray from her hand and throw it in the woods. Officer Gonzalez drove off when he noticed a citizen caller had stopped which he assumed she had flagged down. E-File # 2019-014 Serving the Copia Cy 4 Ms. and Officer Gonzalez are observed on camera footage, in the chutch lot, parked in separate vehicles next to each other for an extended amount of time, Ms. is seen exiting Officer Gonzalez. personal vehicle while he is in his police cruiser. The footage does not capture the physical altercation that was reported. Ms. friend, Ms. ‘was contacted on the day of incident. She stated Ms. has been staying at her home at the request of her boyftiend, Officer Gonzalez. Ms. describes their relationship as unstable stating that most their conversations are negative and “childish.” ‘That they often argue “about nothing.” Ms. ‘was not present for the incident but reported July 29, 2019 at 0342 hours, Ms. retumed to her residence, distraught, and crying. She claimed Officer Gonzalez had assaulted her. Ms. told Ms he punched her in the stomach twice and took her cell phone. ‘That a woman had stopped to help and called the police. Ms. stated after the incident, Officer Gonzalez had spoken with Ms on her cell phone briefly. He further attempted to explain what had occurred to Ms. but she did not entertain the conversation aid asked that he call back another time. Ms. was able to make contact with Ms. and she agreed to meet with me for further investigation. Ms. reported when she met with Officer Gonzalez in the church parking lot, they were talking for some time. Ms. received a text message from a male friend at which time Officer Gonzalez. began to question her. Ms. stated to avoid further confrontation, she left but Officer Gonzalez followed her. He took her cell phone and refused to return it to her. Ms. stated at one point, he punched her in the stomach twice causing her to fall to the ground. A concemed citizen stopped to check on her and made contact with police. Based on the preponderance of evidence this Investigation recommends Officer Joven Gonzalez. be charged in violation of the following Hartford Police Department Code of ‘Conduct as listed below: © Article 1, Section 1.00, Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer As a result of this incident, the Hartford Courant published an article captioned, “Hartford Police Officer under internal affairs investigation after an on-duty incident involving juvenile ex-girlfriend” on August 20, 2019. The article states details of the incident based on the Bloomfield Police Department's reports. Officer Gonzalez’ conduct in a personal matter, while on-duty, caused the Bloomfield Police Department to respond and investigate him. In addition, Officer Gonzalez’ actions in public view and in the Town of Bloomfield were observed by a private citizen, causing the private citizen enough alarm to stop and attempt to assist Ms. along with calling 911. As a whole, Officer Gonzalez’ conduet on July 29, 2019 discredited the Hartford Police Department, Specifically in this incident, Officer Gonzalez, again allowed Ms. to pick up his personal vehicle to meet him, knowing she does not possess a valid license with the Department of Motor Vehicle. Officer Gonzalez is assisting Ms. to violate Connecticut Motor Vehicle Law, placing her and the general public at Ibe 2019-014 Serving the Capital Cy 15 tisk. Officer Gonzalez, while driving a marked patrol unit, allowed Ms, to follow him into the Town of Bloomfield while she drove unlicensed. © Article Il, Section 2.10, Knowingly and willfully making a false entry in any department or other official report or record. Officer Gonzalez reports he was parked at the church lot when he gave Ms, his location to meet. City owned cameras capture him in the area of , With his personal vehicle following directly behind the police vehicle he was operating. They later entered the church lot together. Officer Gonzalez also reported seeing a vehicle stop to assist Ms. He reports this to Bloomfield Police and during the initial Internal Affairs interview. During the second Intemal Affairs interview, after being played the recording, he was adamant about not seeing the vehicle that stop to assist Ms. ‘At that time it brought to his attention he had already submitted a written and verbal statement confirming to the Bloomfield Police and the Internal Affairs Division that he did in fact see the vehicle. © Article V1, Section 6.07, Imentional absence from duty assignment without authorized permission. While working his overtime shift, Officer Gonzalez, met with Ms. to conduet personal business without the permission of a supervisor. Officer Gonzalez was parked with Ms. for over an hour, in the Town of Bloomfield, instead of assisting in calls for service or conducting other patrol related functions. Officer Gonzalez was also outside of his patrol area while engaging in this personal matter with Ms. * Article VI, Section 6.08, Intentional failure to take appropriate action when necessary and/or failure to make report of same to appropriate Bureau, Division or Commanding Officer at the conclusion of the employee's tour of duty unless specifically waived by the Commander. At the time of incident, Officer Gonzalez made unintentional radio contact with dispatch causing what sound like a scuffle a female’s voice can be heard. Officer Gonzalez then responds “disregard.” Officer Gonzalez should have taken that opportunity to ask for a backup officer and a supervisor to respond to the scene, to properly report the incident. Officer Gonzalez stated this transmission was after he had been pepper spray. He reported being well enough to respond to another call to back up another officer. After, he went back to the church attempting to find Ms. ‘When contact was made with Lieutenant Mertes, he realized she was in ‘the area looking for him. The notification was not initiated by Officer Gonzalez, and not conducted in a timely manner, since he had the opportunity to notify dispatch. F-Flle # 2019-014 Serving he Capt iy 16 © Article VE, Section 6.0, Intentional and willful failure to comply with any lawful orders, procedures, directives or regulations, oral or written, (2 Counts) Lieutenant Mertes ordered Officer Gonzalez on scene to not have any further contact with Ms. In his statement to the Bloomfield Police Department he admits to having contact with Ms. afier the incident, The text message conversation obtained began at 0319 hours, and it was clear he was initially ‘communicating with Ms, Officer Gonzalez failed to comply with a lawful order from his direct supervisor. On the date of incident prior to Officer Gonzalez being dismissed, I also ordered him not to have contact with Ms. or any mutual friends, Officer Gonzalez acknowledged he understood. Throughout the investigation, it was discovered he remained in contact with her close friend. Officer Gonzalez made it clear he was aware police would be reaching out to her friends and felt it was important for them to hear his side of the incident. This was a direct violation of a lawful order, Pile # 2019-018 Serving tie Capital Cay 0

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