A West Hartford K-9 officer told a car theft suspect several times "I'm going to shoot you" before opening fire in a moving, stolen vehicle Tuesday, killing the suspect. The incident was caught on police bodycam video (WARNING: GRAPHIC) released Friday by the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General, which is investigating.
Also on Friday, Inspector General Robert Devlin released the names of the suspect and the officer. The officer is Andrew Teeter of the West Hartford Police Department. The suspect was Mike Alexander-Garcia, 34. The Chief Medical Examiner's office says he died of gunshot wounds to the torso.
The Inspector General says that late Tuesday afternoon on New Britain Ave., West Hartford police were chasing a stolen Hyundai Elantra carrying two men. “Stop sticks” were deployed by officers. At South Street, the Hyundai struck two other vehicles and became disabled. The two men ran from the scene.
Police say one of the suspects, Lyle Solsbury of West Hartford, was quickly arrested. The other man, Alexander-Garcia, unsuccessfully tried to carjack two other vehicles, then ran to a nearby Town Fair Tire. That’s where Alexander-Garcia climbed into a Toyota RAV4 in one of the garage bays. Officer Teeter saw him and followed. Teeter sent his K-9 into the vehicle, then got in the passenger seat behind it.
On Teeter’s bodycam video, as released by the Inspector General, the dog is seen apparently biting the suspect. The suspect is heard screaming. Teeter is heard warning, “I’m going to shoot you.” During this fracas, Alexander-Garcia puts the RAV4 in reverse and pulls out of the bay, striking the K-9 cruiser. Officer Teeter opens fire, striking Alexander-Garcia in the torso. The RAV4 crashes into another vehicle and a utility pole across New Britain Ave.
Alexander-Garcia was pronounced dead a short time later at Hartford Hospital. A state database shows that he had a criminal record, including larceny convictions.
Officer Teeter suffered a broken rib and cuts to the head. The K-9 was uninjured.
The Inspector General's office will determine if the shooting by police was justified.