Video appears to show Meriden officer punch person in the face during road rage incident

FOX 61

26 Feb 202403:37

Summary

TLDRIn an exclusive report by Fox 61, a violent road rage incident involving an off-duty Meriden police officer, Corporal Alan Ganter, has surfaced. The altercation, captured on both citizen dash cam and police body cam footage, occurred in December 2023. Ganter, after a traffic dispute, was filmed reaching into another driver's vehicle and punching him. The victim, Thomas Broglio, reported the incident, leading to Ganter's arrest. An internal investigation by Meriden Police resulted in Ganter's suspension and mandatory de-escalation training. Despite requests for comment, Meriden Police have remained largely silent post-statement.

Takeaways

👮 American police officer charged with assault following a road rage incident.
📹 Fox 61 exclusively obtained dash cam and police body cam footage of the incident.
🔔 Incident reported in December only surfaced after a freedom of information act request and a tip.
👨‍⚖️ Off-duty officer with over 20 years of experience seen punching a civilian in the face.
📱 Confrontation began over alleged phone use while driving and escalated from there.
📝 Rocky Hill Police generated an incident report, noting the victim was possibly concussed.
🚨 Off-duty officer, also a school resource officer, charged with breach of peace and assault.
📚 Meriden Police Department's internal investigation resulted in a 5-day suspension and mandatory de-escalation training for the officer.
📢 Meriden Police Department issued a statement but declined further on-camera interviews.
🚫 Incident raises questions about conduct, accountability, and transparency within the police force.

Q & A

What triggered the incident between Thomas Broglio and Corporal Alan Ganter?
-The incident was triggered by a road rage situation where Thomas Broglio honked at Corporal Alan Ganter, who was off duty and driving a truck, as they approached a red light.
How did Fox 61 obtain the video footage of the incident?
-Fox 61 obtained both the citizen dash cam and police body cam video through a freedom of information act request and a tip.
What was Corporal Alan Ganter's response to Thomas Broglio's honking?
-Corporal Ganter got out of his truck, flashed his badge, approached Broglio, and began taking pictures of Broglio's license plates.
What were the consequences for Corporal Alan Ganter following the incident?
-Corporal Ganter was charged with breach of peace and assault, suspended for five days without pay, and required to attend de-escalation training for three consecutive years.
What was Thomas Broglio's reaction to Corporal Ganter's threat of giving him a ticket?
-Broglio asked for Ganter's badge number and questioned the legitimacy of getting arrested, showing resistance to Ganter's threats.
How did the Meriden Police Department respond to the incident internally?
-The Meriden Police Department conducted an internal affairs investigation, which determined that Ganter violated the department's rules of conduct, resulting in his suspension and mandated de-escalation training.
What did the Rocky Hill police report say about Thomas Broglio's condition after the incident?
-The Rocky Hill police report stated that the punch left Thomas Broglio dazed and possibly concussed.
How did Corporal Ganter react when he was informed by police officers that he was being charged?
-Ganter inquired if he could press charges against Broglio for breach of peace due to Broglio yelling at him.
What role did Corporal Alan Ganter hold in the community apart from being a police officer?
-Corporal Alan Ganter was a school resource officer for the Thomas Edison Middle School.
What was the outcome of the attempt to get a statement from the Meriden Police Department regarding the incident?
-Initially, Fox 61 was told that someone from internal affairs would speak to them, but later they were informed that no one was available for an on-camera interview, and the department stated it would not address the issue further.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Officer Charged in Road Rage Assault

In a Fox 61 exclusive, an off-duty police officer, Corporal Alan Ganter of the Meriton Police Department, was charged with assault following a road rage incident captured by citizen dash cam and police body cam footage. The altercation occurred on December 8th, 2023, when Ganter, after being honked at by Thomas Broglio, exited his vehicle, flashed his badge, and physically assaulted Broglio. Despite occurring in December, the incident only came to light following a freedom of information act request and a tip. Ganter, who has over 20 years of law enforcement experience, was later charged with breach of peace and assault after Rocky Hill police reviewed the evidence, including Broglio's report of being punched and possibly concussed. Meriton Police Department concluded an internal affairs investigation, resulting in Ganter's five-day suspension without pay and a mandate for three years of de-escalation training. The department declined further comments or on-camera interviews regarding the matter.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Road rage

Road rage refers to aggressive or violent behavior by a driver of a vehicle. Such behaviors may include verbal insults, physical threats, or dangerous driving methods directed toward another driver in an effort to intimidate or release frustration. In the video, the incident involving a police officer, identified as Corporal Alan Ganter, and a civilian, Thomas Broglio, began with a road rage scenario where Ganter, off duty at the time, reportedly reached into Broglio's vehicle and punched him in the face during a confrontation at a red light.

💡Freedom of Information Act request

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government. In the context of the video, the incident came to light thanks to a FOIA request and a tip, demonstrating the act's role in promoting transparency and accountability by enabling access to information that concerns public officials' actions, in this case, a police officer's conduct during an off-duty incident.

💡Dash cam and body cam video

Dash cams and body cams are recording devices used in vehicles and worn by police officers, respectively, to capture video footage of events as they unfold. The video from both a citizen's dash cam and police body cam played a crucial role in the video's narrative by providing visual evidence of the altercation between Corporal Ganter and Thomas Broglio. This evidence was instrumental in the subsequent investigation and legal actions.

💡Assault

Assault is a legal term referring to an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. In the video, Corporal Ganter is accused and later charged with assault after allegedly punching Broglio in the face, an action captured by video evidence, highlighting the severity of Ganter's actions during the road rage incident.

💡Internal affairs investigation

An internal affairs investigation refers to a unit within a police department that examines allegations of misconduct involving police officers. The Meriden Police Department conducted such an investigation into Corporal Ganter's actions, which concluded that he violated the department's rules of conduct. This process underscores the mechanisms in place within law enforcement agencies to hold officers accountable for their actions.

💡De-escalation training

De-escalation training involves teaching law enforcement officers techniques to reduce the intensity of a conflict or potentially violent situation. Following the investigation, Ganter was required to attend de-escalation training for three years, indicating the department's recognition of the need for skills that prevent incidents from escalating to violence, especially in situations that could be resolved peacefully.

💡Breach of peace

Breach of peace is a legal term used to describe actions that disturb the public tranquility or order. Corporal Ganter was charged with this offense in addition to assault, reflecting the disturbance his actions caused not only to Broglio but also potentially to the public's sense of safety and order, especially considering his role as a law enforcement officer and a school resource officer.

💡Concussion

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that shakes the brain inside the skull. The incident report mentions that the punch left Broglio dazed and possibly concussed, highlighting the physical consequences of Ganter's actions during the altercation.

💡Suspension

Suspension in this context refers to a disciplinary action where an employee is temporarily removed from their job. Ganter was suspended for five days without pay as a result of the internal affairs investigation, which serves as a punitive measure for his misconduct, aiming to serve as a deterrent against future violations.

💡School resource officer

A school resource officer (SRO) is a law enforcement officer assigned to a school to provide safety and crime prevention services. The fact that Ganter served as an SRO adds to the complexity of the situation, considering his role in ensuring the safety of students.

Highlights

Fox 61 exclusive coverage of American police officers charged with assault after a road rage incident.

Incident caught on camera, featuring both citizen dash cam and police body cam footage.

The assault case only came to light through a freedom of information act request and a tip.

Off-duty officer with over 20 years of experience involved in the assault.

The incident occurred at the intersection of France Street and Cromwell Ave in Rocky Hill.

Meriton Police Corporal Alan Ganter identified as the off-duty officer involved.

Confrontation escalated after Ganter flashed his badge and began taking pictures.

Victim Thomas Broglio accused Ganter of using his phone during the incident.

Ganter threatened to give Broglio a ticket and call his supervisor.

Rocky Hill police generated an incident report stating the punch left Broglio possibly concussed.

Ganter charged with breach of peace and assault.

Internal affairs investigation found Ganter violated police department's rules of conduct.

Ganter suspended for five days without pay and required to attend de-escalation training for three years.

Meriden Police Department's statement on the incident and actions taken.

No further comments or on-camera interviews will be provided by Meriden Police.