Officers Injured in February Pursuit/Shooting Cleared for Work

EAST HARTFORD/GLASTONBURY, CT — Officers injured in a February pursuit and shooting involving police have been medically cleared to go back on the job, a East Hartford Police Department spokesman said Monday.

The investigation is continuing, the spokesman said.

The incident took place on a Sunday evening — Feb. 4.

That night, East Hartford police received a report of a stolen motor vehicle and, shortly after 8:30 p.m., it was spotted, according to a reports. Officers followed it and had an "encounter" with the driver in the parking lot

of 11 Turtle Creek Lane, according to reports.

During the altercation officers were injured, and police fired at the suspect and vehicle, but the car sped from the scene, according to reports.

Police pursued the vehicle to the area of New London Turnpike, Chestnut Hill Road and Copley Road in Glastonbury.

East Hartford police officers fired at the suspect there, hit him and he later died at a local hospital, according to reports.

The officers who fired their service weapons during the incident — Sgt. Joseph Ficacelli, Officer Thomas Castagna, Officer Marc Caruso, Officer Richard Hill and Officer Garrett Ostafin, remain on administrative duty, per "standard protocol," an East Hartford police spokesman said.

The investigation is being led by state police and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, also standard protocol for the type of incident.

"State Investigators continue to have full cooperation from East Hartford police," the spokesman said.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel