Bethel Police Officer Accused Of Hindering Prosecution In Fatal Shelton Crash Involving Brother: State Police

SHELTON, CT — A Bethel police officer accused of hindering prosecution in connection to a fatal crash involving a relative last year on Route 8 in Shelton was arrested Tuesday, Connecticut State Police announced this week.

According to a criminal information summary provided by state police, Jessenia Beamonte, 32, of Derby, turned herself into Troop I - Bethany due to an active arrest warrant related to the crash, which occurred on Jan. 12, 2025.

She was charged with third-degree hindering prosecution, interfering with an officer and accessory to evading responsibility causing injury/death.

Beamonte was released on a $250,000 court-set cash/surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court later this month, according to state police.

According to an arrest warrant application also provided by state police, the collision occurred around 12:30 a.m. when a Honda CR-V traveling north hit the back of a Honda Civic Del Sol with a juvenile passenger, which caused the Civic to enter the southbound travel lane and into the path of a Honda Accord.

The Accord then collided with the Civic, after which the CR-V left the area, according to state police.

When troopers arrived in the area of the crash, the passenger of the Civic "was found to be without a pulse" and later pronounced dead, according to state police.

According to the warrant application, Beamonte called 911 around 2:15 a.m. to report her brother had been involved in a crash and that she wanted to take him to a hospital.

Beamonte's brother also called 911 earlier, around 1:30 a.m., to report his involvement in a crash. He also noted his vehicle was parked in the lot of a business in Shelton, the warrant states.

A detached license plate for the CR-V was found in the area of the crash, which troopers determined was owned by Beamonte's brother, according to state police.

When troopers tried to contact him, Beamonte answered the phone and explained she was with her brother at the Shelton parking lot and was going to take him to Griffin Hospital in Derby for a complaint of chest pain, according to state police.

When troopers spoke with Beamonte's brother at the hospital, he admitted to consuming alcohol in Fairfield prior to the crash, the warrant states.

After further investigation, state police determined Beamonte's brother "failed to maintain a sufficient separation distance from the vehicle in front of him" and also "failed to recognize the vehicle in front of him, apply the brakes, and/or take evasive action at the appropriate time that would have allowed for the Honda CR-V to avoid colliding into the rear of the Honda Civic Del Sol," the warrant states.

The speed of the CR-V was also determined to be a contributing factor. According to the warrant, state police determined Beamonte's brother was driving between 82.6 mph and 89.4 mph on Route 8 north, where the posted speed limit is 55 mph.

State police spoke with a Bethel police sergeant in February, who told troopers Beamonte called him the night of the crash while he was working and explained her brother was involved in a crash on Route 8 "and that he had four beers between [8 p.m.] and midnight," according to the warrant.

When the sergeant asked Beamonte if her brother was intoxicated, she said he did not seem drunk and "expressed more concern with the evading aspect and not a DUI," according to the warrant.

The sergeant told troopers he explained to Beamonte that she needed to call 911 and take her brother back to the scene of the crash, according to the warrant.

The sergeant said Beamonte explained that a Shelton police officer approached them while they were in the parking lot and told her state police were aware of their location and a trooper would be there shortly, according to the warrant.

The sergeant said Beamonte called him back a short time later and said no one had arrived yet but her brother was now complaining of chest pain, according to the warrant.

The sergeant said he told Beamonte to either take her brother back to the scene to get evaluated or take him to a hospital, but to also contact state police to let them know about the change in location, according to the warrant.

"At this time, [Beamonte] began to ask if she takes [her brother] to the scene, would the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) be administered," the warrant states. "[The sergeant] told her that it would be a possibility, but that if she takes him to the hospital, they would draw blood."

The sergeant added he believed Beamonte "was reaching out to him as she was in shock about the incident and was looking for advice for the evading aspect," the warrant states.

State police later determined Beamonte's brother waited approximately 44 minutes to report his involvement in the crash, while Beamonte waited one hour and 16 minutes from the time she made contact with her brother until the time she called 911, according to the warrant.

"With her role as a Bethel police officer, [Beamonte] would be trained in knowing the prongs of evading responsibility following a motor vehicle collision," the warrant states.

The warrant also notes Beamonte's responsibility would dictate reporting the incident immediately.

State police also noted video surveillance footage showed Beamonte's brother "had consumed no less than eight alcoholic beverages" in Fairfield before leaving in his Honda CR-V prior to the crash, according to the warrant.

State police further noted in the warrant it was clear Beamonte's brother had "consumed more alcoholic beverages than both had reported" the night of the crash.

According to the warrant, Beamonte is accused of "knowingly and willfully" impeding a police investigation, delaying contacting police or emergency services and utilizing her professional law enforcement training and knowledge to obstruct and hinder an investigation of the crash.

In a statement sent to Patch, Bethel Police Lt. Michael Libertini said Thursday the department was aware that Beamonte had been arrested by another law enforcement agency but noted the incident did not occur while she was on duty and was being investigated by state police.

"As this is an active investigation being handled by another agency, the Bethel Police Department will not be involved in the criminal investigation and will not comment on specific details at this time," Libertini said in a statement.

According to Libertini, Beamonte has been placed on administrative leave "pending the outcome of the criminal process and an internal review, consistent with department policy and applicable law."

"The Bethel Police Department takes these matters seriously and holds its members to high professional and ethical standards," Libertini said. "Maintaining public trust is a priority for this department, and we are committed to transparency while respecting due process. We will cooperate fully with the investigating agency. We ask that the public allow the legal process to proceed."

On Friday, state police identified Beamonte's brother as Carlos Beamonte, 39, of Derby, and announced he turned himself into Troop I - Bethany on the strength of an active warrant related to the crash.

He was charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, two counts of assault with a motor vehicle, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, evading responsibility - death and two counts of evading responsibility - serious physical injury.

He was held on a $750,000 court-set cash/surety bond and was scheduled to appear in court Friday.