Waterbury Cop On Administrative Duty Following Expletive-Laced Interaction

WATERBURY, CT — A city police officer has been put on administrative duty pending an internal probe into his interaction with individuals after an attempted motor vehicle stop, officials announced Wednesday.

A private doorbell video captured the interaction involving the officer, Sebastian Alli.

Lt. Ryan Bessette said the officer had been working around 9 p.m. on May 2 when he observed a motor vehicle make an illegal turn in the area of West Main Street at Willow Street.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled the area, police said.

The interaction which is being investigated happens afterward, when the officer is outside a private residence, speaking to individuals inside about the prior motor vehicle incident.

“Subsequent review of the incident determined that the officer acted in an unprofessional manner during interactions with individuals connected to the fleeing vehicle,” Bessette said, in a news release. “The conduct displayed during the encounter does not meet the standards expected of Waterbury Police Department personnel and undermines the public trust in our officers.”

Police did not say how long the internal affairs probe might take.

Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said he wants to assure Waterbury residents that a “thorough and impartial investigation will be conducted to address this matter appropriately."

"The conduct exhibited by this officer is not reflective of the values or professionalism upheld by the men and women of the Waterbury Police Department,” Spagnolo said. “We are committed to transparency and accountability.”

WFSB obtained the private video of the officer.

In the video, the officer is outside a front door and can be heard speaking to people inside the house, who are off camera:

“If that car doesn’t appear within the next 10 minutes, I will literally make your life a living hell. I am the wrong (expletive) cop to take off on. I will be here every (expletive) day knocking on your door.”

Watch the full video at WFSB.