University Employee Placed On Leave After Arrest in Hartford

HARTFORD, CT — Central Connecticut State University has placed an administrator on leave following his arrest Wednesday on six charges, including felony kidnapping, strangulation and risk of injury to a child.

Christopher Dukes, 45, who is the director of student conduct at the New Britain university, was also charged by Hartford police with second-degree threatening, third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace. He was released after posting a $450,000 surety bond, and was scheduled to appear Monday in Hartford Superior Court.

Details of the circumstances surrounding Dukes' arrest were not made public, but university officials decided to place him on leave.

"Although the incident did not take place on our campus, I am extremely concerned about the situation," college president Zulma R. Toro said in a written statement. "Christopher Dukes has been placed on administrative leave and notified that he is not allowed access to campus until the University conducts an investigation into this matter. We have taken measures to ensure services and support offered to our students through the Office of Student Conduct continue and that our campus remains a safe environment for all. Beyond that, I am limited as to what I can say at this time because it is a personnel matter."

Photo courtesy of Hartford Police Department

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