Troopers Charged With Kidnapping, Assault in Off-Duty Incident in Wethersfield

WETHERSFIELD, CT — Two state troopers are facing charges that include assault and kidnapping related to an off-duty incident in Wethersfield, police said.

The troopers, Rupert Laird from Troop C in Tolland and Xavier Cruz from Troop K in Colchester, have been arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, second-degree assault with a firearm, the deprivation of rights by force or threat and conspiracy, according to police.

Cruz and Laird were released on $750,000 bonds and are due back in court on March 29, a clerk said Tuesday.

Both are 30 and have been on the job since 2012, state police said.

State police spokeswoman Trooper First-Class Kelly Grant said that, immediately upon learning of the "egregious conduct of two off-duty state troopers," disciplinary action was taken.

"The Connecticut State Police suspended their police powers, confiscated their weapons, badges and patrol vehicles, and opened its own administrative inquiry," Grant said. "Both troopers are suspended pending the outcome of the proceedings."

The incident was on Feb. 18, Wethersfield police spokesman Lt. Andrew Power said. Police were alerted to the seriousness of it by a nurse at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

He said the investigation involves only the two troopers.

Photo Credit: WPD