Danbury Police Officer Cleared In July Shooting

DANBURY — A city police officer who shot a Bristol man last summer has been exonerated following a state investigation, the News-Times reported.

Alex Relyea, 33, the patrol K9 officer who shot and wounded Aaron Bouffard following a two-hour manhunt in July was cleared of any wrongdoing on Tuesday. He had been on administrative leave since the shooting.

Less than seven months earlier the officer was involved in a similar incident when he shot and killed Paul Arbitelle who officials say was approaching Relyea with a knife drawn.

Relyea was also cleared in that earlier incident, with the State Attorney ruling that the use of force was "both reasonable and justified under the circumstances."