Man Charged With Pistol Assault at East Haven Hotel: Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven man is accused of pistol-whipping a person during a New Year's Eve party at a hotel in East Haven, according to police.

On Jan. 1 at 12:13 a.m. Yale-New Haven Hospital security contacted the East Haven Police Department to alert them of an assault that had occurred at the Quality Inn, 30 East Frontage Road.

The assault victim advised hospital security that he was assaulted with a gun while attending a New Year’s Eve Party at the Quality Inn, police said. It was quickly determined that the assault victim had been pistol whipped with a handgun and not shot, police said.

Officers responded to the Quality Inn and made contact with several rooms who were having parties.

"It was learned through the investigation that the occupants of one party crashed another room’s party which created an argument among the two groups. It was also alleged that one group was planning on robbing the other group," East Haven Police said in a news release. "A verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation at which point a handgun was pulled out and used to strike the victim on the head. The victim’s girlfriend then transported him to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries."

Video surveillance of the assault, which took place in the parking lot, was obtained by officers who were then able to determine the aggressor in the fight. Officers detained Willie E. Griffin, 28, of Meloy Road in West Haven, who was seen on surveillance video engaged in the assault, police said.

While officers were in room 122 speaking with Griffin about the assault, a loaded .22 caliber handgun was located in the bathroom, police said. The handgun located was determined to be the instrument used in the assault and was seized, police said.

After Griffin was positively identified as being responsible for the assault, he was placed under arrest and transported to the East Haven Police Department where he was charged, police said.

· Criminal Possession of a Pistol

· Carrying a Pistol w/o a Permit

· Threatening in the First Degree

· Assault in the Second Degree

· Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree

Griffin was held on a $200,000 bond.

Photo via EH Police