Police union backs ex-officer Joseph Magnano after manslaughter charge

Former Hartford police officer Joseph Magnano was charged on May 18 with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Steven “Stevie” Jones, a 55-year-old man whom police encountered during what family members described as an acute mental health crisis. Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott said his office concluded Magnano’s use of deadly force on Blue Hills Avenue on Feb. 27 was not legally justified. Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam had already fired Magnano on March 27 after reviewing body-camera footage. The Hartford police union has since defended Magnano and challenged the firing, putting the criminal case, the city’s disciplinary action and the union’s response on parallel tracks. ### Why was Joseph Magnano charged? Eliot Prescott said on May 18 that Magnano was arrested and charged after the Office of Inspector General found his actions were “not objectively reasonable” under Connecticut law. NBC Connecticut, citing Prescott’s release and report, said the office found the shooting was not justified. Connecticut Public reported the inspector general said Magnano did not attempt to de-escalate the situation or use non-lethal force before opening fire. (ctpublic.org) The Feb. 27 encounter began after Jones’ sister called 911 around 11:03 a.m. to report that he was holding a knife, had cut himself and had not taken his medication, according to Connecticut Public’s account of the inspector general’s report. Officers were at 687 Blue Hills Ave. for several minutes before Magnano arrived as a fourth officer, according to Patch and NBC Connecticut. (nbcconnecticut.com) ### What do investigators say happened on Blue Hills Avenue? Blue Hills Avenue is where Jones moved from his apartment entrance into the street while officers tried for more than five minutes to get him to drop the knife, according to NBC Connecticut. Connecticut Public reported one officer used a taser several times without immobilizing Jones, and another backed away around a police cruiser as Jones pursued him and then slowed to a walk. (ctpublic.org) Magnano arrived at about 11:12 a.m., according to Patch’s account of the preliminary state report. NBC Connecticut said he approached with his firearm drawn, warned Jones, “You’re going to get shot,” then fired nine times when Jones continued walking toward him with the knife. Connecticut Public reported body-camera video captured another officer telling him, “Mag, Mag, Mag, chill.” Jones died on March 3, and the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, WTNH reported. (nbcconnecticut.com) ### Why did Hartford fire him before the criminal case? Arunan Arulampalam said on March 27 that Magnano’s employment was terminated “effective immediately on the grounds of his performance,” according to Patch. The mayor said three other officers in the video worked to de-escalate the crisis and that Magnano’s actions did not meet that standard. On May 18, Arulampalam said the criminal charge was a “critical, independent step” and said his administration would continue to support a transparent process, according to Connecticut Public and NBC Connecticut. (patch.com) ### What is the police union saying now? WTNH reported Sgt. James Rutkauski of the Hartford Police Union said after Magnano’s arrest that “He’s a mess” and said the former officer was facing a possible sentence of one to 20 years on the manslaughter charge. Rutkauski said the case had damaged morale and called the criticism of Magnano’s decision to go to the scene “nonsensical,” according to WTNH. (patch.com) The union had already attacked the city’s handling of the case after the firing. Patch reported the union filed a grievance over what it called Magnano’s “wrongful termination.” That means the union is publicly backing a former officer whom the city says should no longer have served. (wtnh.com) ### What happens next in court and outside it? Magnano, 23, was released on $50,000 bond after turning himself in on May 18, according to Connecticut Public, WTNH and other local reports. He is due to appear in Hartford Superior Court on June 5. Steven Jones’ family is represented by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, NBC Connecticut reported. (wtnh.com) The criminal case will now proceed in Hartford Superior Court, while the city’s firing decision and the union’s grievance remain separate matters involving Arulampalam, the Hartford Police Department and union officials. (nbcconnecticut.com) (ctpublic.org)