Man Threatened To Kill Officers During Standoff In North Haven: Officials

NORTH HAVEN, CT — The North Haven man arrested after a nearly 14-hour standoff with police repeatedly threatened to kill officers during the incident, according to authorities.

The incident, which involved an exchange of gunfire between the man and police, is being investigated by the Inspector General’s Office with the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, North Haven Police Department, New Haven Police Department, South Central Regional SWAT team, and the New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office, officials announced Friday.

The shooting incident took place Tuesday, Aug. 20 in the 100 block of Cloudland Road in North Haven.

North Haven police officers responded around 8 p.m. on Aug. 19 to the home on a report of shots fired. Officers learned that residents of a neighboring house reported hearing sounds of gunfire coming from the back of the home, according to a news release from the Inspector General’s Office.

Officials said a record check for the address produced the name Robert Mazurek, who had a previous arrest for unlawful discharge of a firearm from his residence while intoxicated.

“Upon arrival, the North Haven officers approached the residence and observed Mazurek walking out of the house,” officials wrote in the news release. “He gestured to the officers to leave. Looking in the garage window, officers saw Mazurek sitting at a table cleaning an object.”

When the officers knocked on the garage door, officials said Mazurek shouted: “Get a warrant,” “Get off my property,” and “I’ll blow your [expletive] heads off, get off my property.”

Officers saw a yellow shotgun shell outside the garage, according to officials.

The South Central Regional SWAT team was activated and arrived around 10 p.m. along with a crisis negotiator.

“Contact was established with Mazurek,” officials wrote. “During the negotiations (which lasted through the night) Mazurek exhibited volatile and irrational behavior. He repeatedly threatened to kill law enforcement by means of firearms and explosive devices, including grenades.”

Officials said the SWAT team deployed a chemical agent into the house around 5:30 a.m.

“In response, Mazurek fired four rounds,” officials wrote. “Over the next three hours, Mazurek fired multiple shotgun rounds at five SWAT operators and their Bearcat vehicle. Three SWAT operators returned fire - North Branford Police Officer Thomas Pacelli, East Haven Police Officer Raymond Wilson, and Branford Police Officer Rocco Morgan.

“At approximately 9:30 a.m., Mazurek surrendered and was taken into custody.”

Officials said neither Mazurek nor any of the police officers at the scene were injured.

Mazurek, 50, was arrested and charged with five counts of criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, five counts of criminal attempt to commit assault on police / public safety, illegal discharge of a firearm, first-degree threatening with a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree breach of peace.

The Inspector General's Office released several body-worn camera recordings, including Mazurek shooting at police from inside his house (below):

Body-worn camera recording of police direction to Mazurek to disarm is below:

And a body-worn camera recording of Mazurek’s apprehension is below: