Final OIG Report Clears New Haven Cops, Trooper, In 2024 Shooting Death Of Man, 36, At Car Wash

NEW HAVEN, CT — A year after its preliminary report found the use of deadly force was justified in the officer-involved shooting death of Jebrell Conley at a West Haven car wash in September 2024, the Office of the Inspector General has released its final report, upholding its early determination that the cops' actions were "objectively reasonable."

Connecticut State Police Sgt. Colin Richter, New Haven Police Sgt. Francisco Sanchez, and New Haven police Officer Michael Valente were all members of the Violent Crime Task Force. The OIG found that Conley’s death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by Valente and Richter.

With respect to Sanchez, the results were inconclusive regarding whether any of the projectiles recovered from Conley’s body originated from Sanchez’s firearm.

The OIG said the use of deadly force was valid because it was "in response to the use of deadly physical force used by Jebrell Conley."

"Accordingly, I find that their actions were legally justified," Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott wrote.

But, Prescott does speak at length on his concern about the Task Force's decision-making process.

"I would be remiss if I did not comment on the decision of the Task Force to serve this warrant on Conley, whom they suspected possessed a firearm, at a busy car wash while Conley was parked within just feet of other occupied vehicles," Prescott wrote. "There can be little dispute that their action posed substantial risks to those sitting in or standing next to their vehicles."

"There can be little dispute that their action posed substantial risks to those sitting in or standing next to their vehicles. Indeed, one vehicle, occupied by Civilian Witness #1, was struck with a round fired by one of the officers. The occupants of the red Honda Civic were also placed at risk of serious harm in this incident. The desire to apprehend an individual who arguably poses a threat to public safety must always be balanced by threat of harm that apprehension poses to innocent bystanders. Similar to the context of police vehicular pursuits of fleeing suspects, when serving a felony warrant on suspect believed to be armed, the question must first be asked “is the risk of injury or death to
innocent persons worth the risk of serving a felony warrant in this particular place and at this
particular time?"

What happened that September day in 2024

According to the OIG, the New Haven Police Department Violent Crime Task Force learned that Conley, 36, who they knew, had an outstanding warrant for his arrest on federal Hobbs Act robbery and related firearm charges.

Arrest warrant:

US District Court Conley Ar... by Ellyn Santiago

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At around 5 p.m., the Task Force received information that Conley was in the area of Ella Grasso Boulevard driving a black Hyundai Tucson with New Jersey registration plate Y40-SND, the OIG related.

A license plate reader hit showed the car was at the Splash Car Wash, 2 Boston Post Road, in West Haven. When task force members got there, the OIG said, they found Conley outside the vehicle, in the area where customers use vacuums to clean their cars.

Officers then tried to block in the Hyundai Tucson using their vehicles, and when Conley spotted them, he got back into the Tucson and, as officers moved in to apprehend Conley, he "appeared to fire one round that shattered the Hyundai Tucson’s front driver side window," the OIG report reads.

A handgun, with a high capacity magazine, was recovered by officers from the area where Conley had fallen from the vehicle, the report reads, noting also that, "initial inspection of the handgun suggests that it had jammed after firing one round."

Conley was struck by 12 rounds, the OIG would point out later, and fell out of the vehicle onto the ground. The report reads and noted that cops gave "Conley medical aid," before he was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

On Sept. 20, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of Conley’s death to be "gunshot wounds of torso and upper right extremity." Toxicological reports show he was not under the influence of alcohol or any illegal substance, the OIG noted.

Medical Examiner's report:

The 'material facts:' OIG

The final report from IG Prescott has notes what are described as the "material facts," or rather, what exactly happened that day:

1. On September 17, 2024, Jebrell Conley was indicted on federal robbery and firearm charges. He was well known to law enforcement. On September 19, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Task Force received information that Conley was near Ella Grasso Boulevard driving a black Hyundai Tucson with New Jersey registration plate Y40-SND.

2. A license plate reader device indicated that the Hyundai Tucson was at or near the Splash Car Wash on 2 Boston Post Road, West Haven in an outdoor bay area where customers use vacuums to clean their cars.

3. At the car wash, Task Force officers observed Conley standing outside of the Hyundai Tucson. The officers approached and attempted to block in the vehicle using their taskforce vehicles. Conley spotted the officers and entered the Hyundai Tucson.

4. Conley was in possession of a semiautomatic Glock pistol with a large capacity magazine.

5. Officers approached the vehicle on foot to apprehend Conley. Officer Valente and Officer Vakos were standing just outside the front passenger’s door of Conley’s vehicle. Officer Huelsman, Sergeant Richter and Sergeant Sanchez were standing in the area near the front driver’s side door of the car.

6. When approaching the Hyundai Tucson, the Task Force officers wore ballistic vests with the words, “Police” or “State Trooper” clearly visible on the front and rear of the vests.

7. While they attempted to remove him from the vehicle, Conley attempted to flee in his vehicle by backing up his car. He was unsuccessful because he was blocked by Task Force vehicles.

8. Several officers ordered Conley to get out of the vehicle and to show the officer his hands. Conley did not comply.

9. Sergeant Sanchez continued to try to remove Conley from the vehicle. His service firearm was holstered at the time.

10. Conley then attempted to access his Glock, which he had stored in a cloth bag near the center console.

11. At that time, Sergeant Richter was standing just outside of the open front driver’s side door.

12. Conley began to remove his firearm from the cloth bag. While still partially inside the bag, Conley discharged the weapon towards Sergeant Richter and Officer Sanchez. The round fired by Conley shattered outward the window of the front driver’s side door.

13. After firing one round, Conley’s firearm stove-piped, thereby preventing Conley from discharging additional rounds.

14. On the opposite side of the vehicle, Officer Valente heard the shot fired by Conley and then he could see Conley brandishing the firearm once Conley removed it from the bag.

15. Officer Valente then fired eight shots at Conley.

16. At the same time, Sergeant Richter began to fire rounds at Conley through the front window shield of the vehicle as he moved to his left and around the front of the car. He continued to fire after reaching the passenger side of the vehicle, discharging several additional rounds through the front passenger window. Richter fired a total of 13 rounds.

17. Immediately after Conley discharged his Glock, Sergeant Sanchez drew his service weapon and sought cover towards the driver’s side rear bumper of Conley’s vehicle. He then fired eleven rounds at Conley.

18. Multiple rounds struck Conley who fell out of the Hyundai Tucson onto the parking lot. Officers then swiftly provided Conley medical aid.

19. Conley was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

20. Conley’s death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by Officer Valente and Sergeant Richter.

Body-worn camera footage tells a story

All the task force officers were wearing body-worn cameras that were activated during their attempt to arrest Conley. Here are clips of what the IOG report states are relevant portions of officer body-worn camera:

NHPD Sergeant Francisco Sanchez’s body-worn camera recording:

NHPD Officer Michael Valente’s body-worn camera recording:

NHPD Officer Paul Vakos’ body-worn camera recording:

"We're lucky we're not burying officers," New Haven Police Chief

In a Sept. 2024 Patch story, New Haven Chief of Police said that task force members learned that "there was chatter" that members of the Grape Street Crips from New Jersey were threatening New Haven cops.

"We doubled up officers," Jacobson said at the time. He added, however, that police "later learned from Conley's family who told him there would be no threats." Jacobson called Conley's mother, to whom he offered condolences he said, and spoke to Conley's brother, who Jacobson said he knew well.

"I spoke to his mother and his brother. I told him he had a gun in his hand and fired first," Jacobson said, noting Conley's brother assured him there were "no messages to hurt officers."

"We don't want to do this. We don't want to shoot, but the officers had to do what they had to do," Jacobson said. Though he could not confirm that Conley fired first, he said, there were no shots fired until as Sgt. Sanchez "was trying to pull him from the car, then a shot was fired," and three of the 11 officers on the scene fired back, he said. "The three officers saw the threat. We do send condolences to the family, but we support our officers."

Indeed, Jacobson praised officers for "putting themselves between Conley and the public."

"We're lucky we're not burying officers," Jacobson said.

A "civilian" at the car wash made a video of a portion of the incident

Sanchez is a 12-year, decorated veteran of the police department, Jacobson said. According to the OIG final report though, Sanchez, then-41, "previously had received a verbal warning for interfering with a citizen’s right to record." And, in 2019, "Sanchez used deadly physical force in the course of his duties. After investigation, then New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin concluded that Sanchez’s use of deadly physical force was legally justified."

Valente, then 40, had been a New Haven Police Officer for 11 years and at the time, had no prior disciplinary history.

Both were initially placed on administrative leave pending an internal probe. They have both since been returned to full duty, police spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart said.

Late Tuesday, Jacobson and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker released a joint statement:

"As is the case with all officer involved shootings and the use of deadly force, the Connecticut State Office of Inspector General conducted an independent and thorough investigation of this incident and determined that New Haven Police Department officers and other law enforcement officers acted with appropriate force in this situation in order to protect themselves, their fellow officers and the public.

This was an incredibly dangerous situation – and, if not for the quick response by our law enforcement officers and Conley’s gun jamming, it could have been much more tragic and deadly.

No officer wants to have to discharge their weapon and exchange gunfire with a suspect – it is always the last resort, and our officers acted appropriately and heroically in this incident."